The United States highly appreciated Vietnamese help in searching for a missing Malaysian plane, said a visiting U.S. defense official here on Tuesday.

The efforts that Vietnam made in search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 have proved Vietnam's active contribution to building solidarity and creating peaceful environment in the region, said Michael G. Vickers, U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, during a meeting with Vo Van Tuan, deputy chief of General Staff of Vietnam People's Army.

Vickers added that during the upcoming visit to the U.S. by Vietnam's Minister of Defense, the two sides will further identify cooperation issues including maritime security support.

Vo Van Tuan said that Vietnam attached great importance to comprehensive cooperation with the United States, especially in defense and security.

The cooperation between the two countries has stretched to various areas such as search and rescue, marine defense, response to natural disasters and humanitarian programs, state-run news agency VNA quoted Tuan as saying.

Vietnam hopes to expand cooperation with the U.S., said Tuan. Endi