Senator McCain leads delegation to Hanoi

January 20, 2012

U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam David B. Shear with U.S. Senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman, Sheldon Whitehouse and Kelly Ayotte, as well as representatives of Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi.

Senator John McCain points to his monument near Truc Bach Lake, with U.S. Ambassador David B. Shear and staff.

Senator John McCain led a congressional delegation to Vietnam January 18-20 in order to reaffirm our deepening friendship with the government and people of Vietnam, to discuss regional issues and bilateral cooperation, and to discuss how to consolidate a strategic partnership. The delegation also included Senators Joe Lieberman, Sheldon Whitehouse and Kelly Ayotte.

The four held a press conference on January 19 in Hanoi, after meetings at the U.S. Embassy, National Assembly, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of National Defense, as well as with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. At the press conference each Senator gave a statement, then the group took questions from assembled reporters.

While in Hanoi Senator McCain also led the delegation on a tour of Hoa Lo Prison and Truc Bach Lake.