US diplomat elaborates President Obama’s visit to Vietnam US President Barack Obama’s upcoming visit to Vietnam firstly aims to emphasise a secure, prosperous and independent Vietnam that respects universal human rights and rule of law.   US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel R. Russel. US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel R. Russel elaborated on the US leader’s visit, which is slated for later this month, at a press conference in Hanoi on May 10. He noted that an important component of the US’s policy for Asia-Pacific is strengthening the US-Vietnam partnership. Russel delivered his country’s commitment to assisting Vietnam in effectuating the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement given it will benefit both the country and the region at large. Expanding security cooperation forms another important component of the growing bilateral partnership, covering international peacekeeping, humanitarian aid, disaster relief and maritime security, he told reporters. He laid stress on people-to-people ties, referring to academic partnerships, the inauguration of Fulbright University in Vietnam and other English teaching programmes. How to cope with regional and global challenges is shared by both countries, according to the diplomat. The two countries have been working together to response to such global matters as climate change, health and infectious diseases, and international terrorism. Regarding the East Sea issue, the two sides have joined hands to reach an order based on law and common principles, ease tensions in the sea and ensure that all parties concerned and international law are respected, the diplomat stated. During the visit, both sides will deal with war-era issues, including cooperation in removing unexploded ordnance, locating and returning remains of US soldiers missing in action during wartime, and decontaminating dioxin in the central city of Da Nang. The two sides will discuss and work together to expand their collaboration in human rights and legal reforms in Vietnam in accordance with the country’s 2013 Constitution as well as universal standards, the diplomat said. Russel is on a working visit to Vietnam to make preparations for Obama’s visit. While in the country, he had working sessions with representatives from Vietnamese Ministries of Foreign Affairs, National Defence, Public Security and Justice, and those from the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations and the Government’s Office. VNA