Socialist Republic of Vietnam

(VNA) Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Defence Minister Phung Quang Thanh on Jan. 19 hosted receptions in Hanoi for a visiting US delegation led by Senator John McCain.

At a reception hosted by Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, McCain said he appreciates the achievements made by Vietnam and expressed satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Minister Minh expressed thanks for the support of the US Government and the US Senator in particular, for development in Vietnam .

The two sides discussed co-operation between the two countries and other issues of common concern.

During the reception by Minister of National Defence Phung Quang Thanh the same day, McCain said co-operation between the two countries has made considerable progress in recent years, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral national defence co-operation at the deputy ministerial level.

He said he will try his best to contribute to boosting ties between the two countries.

For his part, Thanh said national defence relations between Vietnam and the US have recorded new progress in the fields of delegation exchanges, training, army medical, search and rescue and overcoming the aftermath of war./.