08 June 2010: DPA
Hanoi - The US and Vietnam concluded two days of talks Tuesday with statements of progress on defence cooperation and on repairing lingering damage from the Vietnam War.
US Assistant Secretary of State Andrew Shapiro and Admiral Robert Willard, head of the US Pacific Command, were visiting Vietnam for the US-Vietnam Political, Security and Defence Dialogue.
Shapiro said the two sides had discussed efforts to remove unexploded mines and bombs left over from the Vietnam War, and to deal with damage from the US's use of the toxic defoliant Agent Orange.
He said the sides had made "progress on a number of issues" but announced no specific initiatives, beyond the 9 million dollars the US has authorised so far on Agent Orange remediation in Vietnam.
Shapiro said the two sides had also discussed Vietnamese participation in UN peacekeeping missions. Vietnam has hinted at participating since 2007 but has never committed to joining a mission, saying it would do so when "conditions are appropriate."
Shapiro and Willard visited Vietnam after participating in the US delegation to the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore last week.
On Monday, Willard reiterated comments made by US Defence Secretary Robert Gates at the Shangri-La Dialogue cautioning China against asserting sovereignty over disputed areas in the South China Sea. Chinese maritime territorial claims are disputed by Vietnam, the Philippines and other regional states.
Willard said the US did not take sides in the dispute, but expected the claims to be resolved peacefully through dialogue. He said the US Navy would continue to play a role in the "security of the region."
"The US has sailed this region for many decades and we intend to remain here," Willard said.
