President Trump invites top Vietnamese leader to visit US this year

U.S. President Donald Trump invited Vietnamese Party chief and State President Nguyen Phu Trong to visit the States this year, during their talks in Hanoi on Wednesday.

General Secretary Trong held talks with the U.S. leader in the late morning, as part of the latter's trip to Vietnam for the second U.S.-North Korea Summit scheduled for February 27 and 28.

During the conversation, Trong affirmed Vietnam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and active integration into the world, respecting one another's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political regimes.

The Southeast Asian country always treasures its comprehensive partnership with the U.S., he added.

The Vietnamese leader shared his appreciation for the U.S.' cooperation in economic matters, trade, education, and the settlement of war consequences, especially the environmental remediation of dioxin contamination in Bien Hoa airport and other dioxin-contaminated areas.

The two countries should boost cooperation in other fields, namely clearance of unexploded ordnance and support for Agent Orange victims, he added.

Regarding international issues, Trong affirmed that Vietnam strongly supports the dialogue process toward denuclearization and long-term peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Replying to his host, President Trump said he was impressed by the hospitality as well as the development of Vietnam in the past years, thanking the country for its thorough preparations for the U.S.-North Korea Summit in such a short period of time.

Both leaders agreed to maintain high-level meetings and delegation exchanges, as well as consolidate existing dialogue mechanisms.

Focus will also be directed on enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, and economic development.

The U.S. will continue playing an active role in the Indo-Pacific region so as to help maintain order and promote its peace, stability, cooperation, and development, Trump asserted.

During the meeting he also invited General Secretary Trong to pay an official visit to the U.S. within 2019 to continue discussing measures to intensify the comprehensive partnership.

Following the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of several economic cooperation documents worth more than US$21 billion in total.

President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met in Hanoi later on Wednesday for a first, brief round of talks and a dinner, and both appeared upbeat, with Trump saying he was satisfied with the pace of negotiations despite some criticism they are not moving quickly enough.

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