Vietnam supports the US to become a full member of the East AsiaSummit (EAS), Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has said.

PM Dung made the remark at his meeting in Hanoi on Oct. 29 with USSecretary of State Hillary Clinton, who came to attend the fifth EAS asa representative of US President B. Obama.

In 2010, the UShas made important contributions to enhancing ties with ASEAN anddeploying constructive policies in the region, especially the GreaterMekong Subregion Initiative, the PM said.

On the occasion, he thanked the US for its sympathy and practical assistance to flood victims in Vietnam ’s central region.

Welcomingthe US Secretary of State’s idea on upgrading the two countries’ties, PM Dung said he assigned relevant agencies to study the issue andexchange views with relevant US agencies.

Economic ties should be the core in bilateral relations and a motivation for development of other ties, he said.

PM Dung also requested relevant agencies soon adopt solutions for the two countries to avoid trade disputes.

Heasked the US to help develop Can Tho University in the Mekong deltainto a regional university specialized in training and research onresponses to climate change.

The Vietnamese leader expressed hishope that Secretary Hillary Clinton and the US Government will continueto care for and further assist Vietnam in dealing with the warconsequences.

For her part, Secretary Clinton suggested that thetwo countries hold talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)agreement and affirmed that the US will assist Vietnam in building auniversity specializing in climate change a and provides funding forclearing UXOs and decontaminating dioxin, for healthcare, and the fightagainst HIV/AIDS.

She also requested that Southeast Asiancountries work out long-term solutions to the East Sea issues andstrictly abide by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the EastSea (DOC).

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem held talks with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Oct. 30.

Theyreviewed developments in the two countries’ relations this year andagreed to further step up the ties in politics, external relations,economy, trade, and education, as well as humanitarian cooperation, andcoordination in dealing with climate change, sea level rise and civilnuclear energy.

The US official reiterated the US ’s policyof enhancing cooperation with ASEAN member countries, activelyparticipating in the Asia-Pacific architecture, and backing ASEAN’scentral role in this architecture.

On behalf of the USGovernment, Secretary Clinton thanked Vietnam , as ASEAN Chair, forsupporting the US ’s joining in EAS and affirmed that her countrywill, together with East Asian countries, contribute to peace, security,stability, cooperation and development in the region.

Later onthe day, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem and US Secretaryof State Hillary Clinton witnessed the signing of a series of documentsbetween the two countries.

The documents included a cooperationagreement between the Ministry of Information and Communications andMicrosoft Group, a deal between Vietnam Airlines and Boeing, and amemorandum of understanding on technical cooperation between theVietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the US Department of State onmethods of approaching and dealing with issues relating to the UNAnti-Torture Convention.

The two FMs held a joint press briefing later./.