(VOVworld) - US Secretary of State John Kerry has begun his 3-day official visit to Vietnam. During a reception at the Government Office on Friday for the US diplomat, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, expected bilateral relations would continue to develop for stability and practical cooperation on the basis of mutual respect of each other’s pathway and development roadmap. Both sides should promote cooperation in overcoming war consequences and other areas.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc recieves US Secretary of State John Kerry in Hanoi on January 13, 2017

In a working session between Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Secretary John Kerry, the Vietnamese side asked the US for an early recognition of market economic status, reduce trade barriers for Vietnamese goods and prioritize cooperation in overcoming war consequences. Deputy Minister Son praised the significance of the ASEAN-US Strategic Partnership and expressed Vietnam’s willingness to cooperate with the US in uplifting ASEAN central role. Both discussed the East Sea situation and reiterated the necessity of international law compliance, diplomatic and legal procedures in addressing disputes for peace, stability, security, freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.

Secretary John Kerry repeated the US commitment to respecting Vietnam’s political institution, independence, national sovereignty and territorial integrity and supported Vietnam’s hosting of the APEC Year 2017. He said the US has a long-term interest in the Asia Pacific and believed that the new US administration will continue fostering relations with the region. He said the US kept a close watch on the East Sea situation and supported dispute resolution through diplomatic and legal procedures based on international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

During his visit to Vietnam, Mr. Kerry is to meet Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Secretary Dinh La Thang and delivered a speech about Vietnam-US relations.