Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Andrew J. Shapiro and H.E. Mr. Pham Binh Minh, Standing Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam met on June 17, 2011, in Washington, D.C. to discuss bilateral and regional security issues. The talks marked the fourth U.S.-Vietnam Political, Security, and Defense Dialogue and built upon the success of the third Dialogue held in Hanoi in June 2010.

The Dialogue focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in the areas of peacekeeping operations and training, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, maritime security, counterterrorism and counternarcotics, and nonproliferation.

In addition, on June 16, Under Secretary for Political Affairs William Burns and Assistant Secretary for East Asia and the Pacific Kurt Campbell each met separately with Vice Foreign Minister Minh to address ways to take the relationship to the next level by broadening and deepening the strategic dimensions of our U.S.-Vietnam bilateral relationship. The two sides discussed a range of issues, including maritime security in the South China Sea and enhanced cooperation in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and East Asia Summit (EAS). Assistant Secretary Campbell also met with visiting Lieutenant General Tran Quang Khue, Vietnam’s Deputy Chief of General Staff, sharing our view that a strong U.S.-Vietnam relationship is essential to long-term peace and security in Asia.