Pompeo meets Trọng on first visit to Việt Nam

Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng (right) receives US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Trí Dũng

HÀ NỘI — Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng received US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday during his first visit to the country since taking office.

This was also his first visit to a Southeast Asian country since taking the position.

During a brief meeting with Trọng after arriving in Hà Nội on Sunday afternoon, Pompeo praised Việt Nam’s contributions to helping resolve regional issues.

He welcomed the fruitful and diverse co-operation in various sectors between the two countries, saying the US wanted to strengthen its comprehensive partnership with Việt Nam.

Regarding the history between the two nations, Pompeo said that the US would continue to help Việt Nam in its efforts to overcome the war's consequences.

He told Trọng that the US backed the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to play a central role in the Indo-Pacific region, while also voicing support for freedom of navigation and the peaceful resolution of disputes in line with international law in the East Sea.

Pompeo co妹妹itted to accelerate the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula based on recent high-level agreements.

The Vietnamese leader highly appreciated the secretary’s visit, saying it would help to promote the implementation of bilateral agreements.

A closer Việt Nam-US engagement would build deeper trust and understanding between the two countries, Trọng said.

He also expressed his belief that their bilateral relations would continue to grow for the sake of peace, stability and development in the region and the world. — VNS