Hanoi, Feb. 13 -- Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang hosted a reception for Michael DeSombre, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, in Hanoi on February 13. Giang affirmed that Vietnam consistently regards the US as one of its important partners, particularly in the field of economy and trade. He expressed his hope that the two countries will further strengthen cooperation on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, and respect for international law, independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political regimes of each other, thereby contributing to the maintenance of security, peace, stability and development in the region and the world. The Vietnamese official noted that in recent ye...