Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel made the statement at his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh in Hanoi on May 8 when touching upon the ongoing issues in the East Sea.
The official called on concerned parties to exercise restraint and settle the issue through diplomatic measures on the basis of international law.
Russel also reiterated a US State Department spokesman’s statement relating to China’s deployment of its Hai Yang Shi You 981 oil drilling rig in Vietnam’s waters, which voiced concern over the ‘provocative’ behaviour.
Meanwhile, Minh, who is also Vietnam’s Foreign Minister, confirmed that Vietnam places importance on unceasingly deepening the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership, showing pleasure at the outcomes of the relationship over the past year, especially the recent signing of the civil nuclear cooperation agreement.
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