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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.
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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.
(additional reporting by Julia Edwards and Alex Wilts; Editing by
David Storey and Andrew Hay)
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