During the talks between Vietnamese National Defense Minister Pham Van Tra and his visiting U.S. counterpart, Donald Rumsfeld, here Monday, the two sides affirmed they would enhance their cooperation on removal and destruction unexploded ordnance (UXO) and landmines in Vietnam, detoxification of chemical poisons left from the Vietnam War in some localities, and provision of information about U.S. soldiers missing in action.

    The two sides will continue their exchanges of military delegations at different levels, and army medical cooperation, they said.

    The two ministers also discussed issues of common concern for the peace, stability and development in the region and the world, and informed each other about the socioeconomic and national defense situation of their countries.

    Tra said that he welcomes the visit, which is Donald Rumsfeld's first trip to Vietnam as a U.S. defense secretary, saying that it contributes to promoting bilateral ties between the two countries' armies and people, and the mutual understanding between Vietnam and the United States.

    Donald Rumsfeld, who started the three-day trip on Sunday, congratulated the Vietnam's socioeconomic achievements. On the same day, he also met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai.

    Before arriving in Hanoi, Donald Rumsfeld said one more U.S. navy ship will visit the country this summer, and that Vietnam will send local pilots to the United States for English language training.

    The U.S. defense secretary also said that the United States wants to enhance its military relations with Vietnam, but has no plans to rent Vietnam's military facilities.

    Talking about the bilateral relations, he said the two countries' military ties are under progress. Vietnam is an important country in the region and the United States highly appreciates the relations with it, he noted.

    Vietnam is the second leg of Donald Rumsfeld's several-Asian-nation tour which also includes Singapore and Indonesia.

    Since the normalization of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States in 1995, cooperation between the two countries has been improved rapidly, especially in the fields of politics, economy, healthcare, education, science and technology, as well as in the fields of drug trafficking and transnational crimes. Enditem