US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta visits Cam Ranh Bay (Photo: Thanh Nien Newspaper)

(VOV) - US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta was in Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam’s central province of Khanh Hoa, as part of his visit to the country. Addressing Vietnamese and foreign reporters aboard the ship, Panetta said that the visit aims to expand national defence cooperation under an agreement signed last year between two defense ministries.  According to the agreement, both sides will focus their cooperation in such areas as marine search and rescue, control of natural disasters, maintenance of maritime security, and safety and freedom in the East Sea. Panetta said that the US and Vietnam have the potential for stronger national defence relationship and that the US is trying to lift this relationship to a new height. Panetta thanked Vietnam for supporting the US in searching for US personnel missing during the War in Vietnam.