Top US Security official meets Vietnam PM & Cabinet to 'expand relations', amid transition

US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien met Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc along with or senior Vietnamese officials during his trip to Hai on Saturday, vember 21. Taking to Twitter, US National Security Council informed that O'Brien met Vietnamese Minister for Public Security,  Minister of National Defense as well as Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. Top US security official's visit to Vietnam comes at a time when two countries mark 25-years anniversary of rmalisation since end of Vietnam War. 

"25 years of diplomatic relations"

As per National Security Council, NSA O'Brien discussed several things with Vietnamese officials including ecomic and security relations between US and Vietnam. He also discussed 'strength of US - Vietnam comprehensive partnership' with Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. O'Brien also had a detailed talk with Vietnamese Minister for Public Security with regards to 'joint efforts to combat transnational crime in support of new U.S.-Mekong Partnership'. Speaking with Minister of National Defense, top US Security official discussed 'cooperation on war legacy issues' as well as about expansion of US- Vietnam 'military engment'. 

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"I was pleased to meet with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh to celebrate 25 years of diplomatic relations and discuss future expansion of our ecomic and security relationship to support a free, prosperous, and secure Vietnam, " said Robert O'Brien as per a tweet by National Security Council. 

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"NSA Robert O’Brien and Vietnamese Minister for Public Security To Lam met today to discuss our joint efforts to combat transnational crime in support of new US-Mekong Partnership and to expand cooperation on a broad range of security issues. NSA O’Brien and Minister of National Defense Lich discussed strong cooperation on war legacy issues, which has paved way for stronger bilateral ties, expanded US-Vietnam military engment, and a safer more secure Indo-Pacific. NSA Robert O’Brien met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to discuss strength of US – Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership and our joint efforts to advance a free and prosperous Indo-Pacific region," informed US National Security Council in a series of tweets. 

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On Friday, Robert O'Brien arrived in Vietnam for a 3-day visit and was welcomed by Ambassador Kritenbrink and his staff at airport. O'Brien is set to participate in a question and answer session with students from Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, on Sunday, vember 22 before leaving for Philippines later in day. 

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(With inputs from ANI/Sputnik)