February 27, 2019 | 03:34 am PT

President Trump invites Vietnamese counterpart Trong to visit US

President Trump invites Vietnamese counterpart Trong to visit US
U.S. President Donald Trump and Vietnam's Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, February 27, 2019. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh

President Donald Trump has officially invited Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong to visit the U.S. this year.

Trump announced the invitation during a meeting with Trong at Hanoi’s Presidential Palace Wednesday morning, according to a press release by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Trump said he was impressed by the hospitality of the Vietnamese people and Vietnam’s growth. He thanked Vietnam for hosting the second North Korea-U.S. summit despite limited time. The U.S. would continue to boost its comprehensive partnership with Vietnam in the future, he added.

Trong said Vietnam consistently practices an independent, multilateral foreign policy of active international integration on the principle of respecting the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations.

Vietnam values strengthening its comprehensive partnership with the U.S., he added.

During the meeting, Trong and Trump discussed international and regional issues of mutual interest, including the East Sea (internationally known as South China Sea) disputes.

Trong also said Vietnam supports dialogue aimed at denuclearization and building long-term peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Trump affirmed that the U.S. would continue to play an active role in the Indo-Pacific region to maintain order based on existing laws while pushing for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

The two leaders also saw several economic cooperation agreements worth over $21 billion signed at the meeting.