Vietnam asks U.S. to share more information on soldiers during war

Defense Minister Phan Van Giang met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, emphasizing Vietnam's view of the U.S. as a crucial partner. During the meeting, Giang affirmed Vietnam's desire to expedite the finalization and signing of a fair and balanced reciprocal trade agreement with the U.S. He also urged the U.S. to remove Vietnam from certain export restriction lists and to conclude its Section 301 investigation into intellectual property concerning Vietnam.

Giang highlighted the positive trajectory of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations. He proposed focusing defense cooperation on key areas such as high-level delegation exchanges, maintaining consultation and dialogue mechanisms, training, UN peacekeeping operations, inter-service cooperation, cybersecurity, military medicine, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Both sides expressed a commitment to effectively implementing existing defense cooperation agreements.

Looking ahead, Giang requested continued support from Landau in advancing bilateral defense cooperation, making it more substantive and contributing positively to overall bilateral relations. He also expressed Vietnam's hope for increased information sharing from the U.S. regarding Vietnamese soldiers during the war, reflecting a spirit of "putting the past behind and looking to the future."

Both nations prioritize cooperation in overcoming war consequences. Vietnam's Ministry of National Defense seeks the U.S. State Department's commitment to supporting Vietnam's efforts, including an additional $130 million for dioxin remediation at Bien Hoa airbase, aiming for completion by 2030. Minister Giang assured close coordination and full support for U.S. efforts to search for missing-in-action American soldiers.