(VOVworld) - Senior Advisor Thomas Shannon of the US Department of State and Vietnamese leaders expressed their satisfaction at the recent encouraging developments in bilateral relations, especially since both countries established a comprehensive partnership last July. During Shannon’s just-concluded visit to Vietnam, he met with Secretary Pham Quang Nghi of Hanoi’s Party Committee and held separate working sessions with Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Thai Lai, and Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee’s External Relations Commission Vuong Thua Phong.

Secretary Pham Quang Nghi of Hanoi’s Party Committee talks with Senior Advisor Thomas Shannon of the US Department of State. (Photo: ktdt.vn)

Shannon and the Vietnamese officials agreed to boost delegation exchanges, intensify cooperation in economics, trade, and education, and hold celebrations of their 20 years of diplomatic relations in 2015.

They discussed regional issues including ASEAN’s central role in regional institutions, the cooperation program between the US and the Asia-Pacific, and the Lower Mekong Initiative. Both sides promised closer coordination for successful implementation of their cooperative programs within the initiative, contributing to the overall sustainable development of the Mekong region.