U.S. President Barack
Obama and the head of Vietnam's ruling communist party discussed concerns over
China's activities in the South China Sea during a historic White House meeting
on Tuesday marking two decades of engagement between the former foes.
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U.S.
President Barack Obama (R) reaches out to shake hands with Vietnam's Communist
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong following their meeting in the Oval
Office at the White House in Washington July 7, 2015.
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Nguyen Phu Trong met
with Obama in the Oval Office, where they had "candid" discussions
over differences about human rights and religious freedom as well a pending
Pacific trade agreement with the region, Obama said.
Trong, one of the most
powerful figures in Vietnam, invited Obama to visit his country and said he was
grateful that the president had graciously accepted. Obama said he looked
forward to going to Vietnam, but no date was announced.
The Vietnamese
leader's trip follows a year-long charm offensive by the United States after a
dispute over sovereignty erupted between communist neighbors Vietnam and China
in May 2014.
Washington took
advantage of the row, ramping up diplomacy with Hanoi after China parked an oil
rig unannounced in waters that Vietnam considers its domain.
Obama said the
U.S.-Vietnam relationship was based on mutual respect and said in the last two
years alone "significant progress" had been made in cooperation on
education, climate change, public health and security.
In a nod to Vietnam's
concern about China, Obama said the South China Sea dispute needed to be
resolved using international rules.
The goal was to
"ensure that the prosperity and freedom of navigation that has
underwritten the enormous economic growth that’s taken place in the region
continues for decades to come," Obama said.
Trong, without naming
China specifically, said he had shared Vietnam's concern about the South China
Sea and "the recent activities that are not in accordance with
international law that may complicate the situation."
China has laid stake
to nearly all of the South China Sea, while Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia,
Taiwan and Brunei claim overlapping parts of it.
LANDMARK MEETING
Both men noted that
the United States and Vietnam had made strides in their relationship.
"There continue
to be significant differences in political philosophy and political systems
between our two countries," Obama said, adding diplomacy would help
overcome disagreements.
Trong said 20 years
ago few would have imagined a substantive meeting between the countries'
leaders.
"We have been
transformed from former enemies to become friends, partners, comprehensive
partners. And I’m convinced that our relationship will continue to grow in
the future," he said through an interpreter.
Source:
Reuters
