HCM City leader greets US Secretary of Defence

 

Politburo member and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan hosted a reception in the city on October 16 for US Secretary of Defence James N.Mattis, assuring him that Vietnam always considers the US one of its important partners.

 

Nhan said Vietnam wishes to continue promoting the bilateral comprehensive partnership on the basis of respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political regime for the benefit of the two countries’ people, contributing to maintain peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

 

He thanked the US Secretary of Defence for his contributions to the detoxification project at Da Nang and Bien Hoa airports, affirming that Vietnam will work closely with the US to continue those activities along with the search for ex-servicemen missing in action during the war.

 

On the occasion, he also expressed thanks to the US for supporting Vietnam in joining the United Nations peacekeeping mission, especially work regarding the field hospital and personnel training at Military Hospital 175.

 

In early October, the first delegation of Vietnamese medical staff was sent to South Sudan to join the UN peacekeeping mission, he said.

 

Mattis, for his part, said the US – Vietnam comprehensive partnership will bring benefits to both sides and contribute to peace and stability in the region.

 

US firms now invest in 390 projects worth 1.2 billion USD in Ho Chi Minh City, ranking 10th among foreign investors in the city.

 

The US remains the largest export market of the city with two-way trade of 8.2 billion USD in 2017.-VNA