Party General Secretary and President To Lam meets President Joe Biden

During the meeting, To Lam thanked Biden for his significant contributions to Vietnam and the Vietnam-US relations. He noted that the historic visit of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to the US in 2015 and President Biden’s state visit to Vietnam in 2023 have provided important momentum, elevating bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, opening up avenues for strong and stable growth in the relations between the two countries for decades to come.

He praised Biden for sharing the lessons learned by the United States and Vietnam in promoting healing and building relationships after the war during the opening session of the 79th United Nations General Assembly.

He emphasized that both Vietnam and the United States share a common vision for creating a better future for all humanity, drawing from this experience that highlights the importance of reconciliation, mutual respect, and understanding, particularly regarding respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political institutions.

The General Secretary affirmed that the Vietnam-US relationship is uniquely special, which has over the past 50 years transformed from former foes to comprehensive and then comprehensive strategic partners. This relationship is entering a new historical chapter and serves as a model in international relations for efforts in healing and building post-war connections.

Biden for his part extended condolences to Vietnam for the damage caused by Typhoon Yagi and affirmed that the US government stands ready to assist Vietnam in its recovery efforts. He once again congratulated To Lam on his new position, saying that the US considers Vietnam a top partner in the region.

The US president recalled his state visit to Vietnam in September 2023, noting the historic event where he and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong announced the upgrade of Vietnam-US relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development both regionally and globally.

He asserted that the US supports a strong, independent, self-reliant, and prosperous Vietnam and will continue to promote the partnership based on mutual respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political systems, aiming for US-Vietnam relations to remain a model of healing and cooperative future-building.

General Secretary and President To Lam introduced Vietnam’s development policy, saying the country will steadfastly pursue an independent, self-reliant, and multi-faceted foreign policy, while being a reliable partner and an active, responsible member of the international community. Viewing the US as a strategically important partner, he expressed his belief that the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the US will continue to develop steadily and sustainably for the benefit and aspirations of the peoples of both nations.

The two leaders expressed happiness over the positive results recorded after a year of elevating the comprehensive strategic partnership, meeting the desires and interests of both sides, and contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the wider world.

To continue maintaining the stable and effective development of the new relationship framework and to prepare for the 30th anniversary of Vietnam-US diplomatic relations in 2025, they agreed that the two sides need to closely coordinate the effective implementation of the 2023 Vietnam-US Joint Statement, that focuses on enhancing contact and exchanges at all levels, especially at the high level, boosting economic, trade, and investment, high technology, semiconductor cooperation, and further leveraging potential in high-quality human resource training, which remains a priority and breakthrough area in the comprehensive strategic partnership.

With regard to regional and international issues of mutual concern, the two sides agreed to continue strengthening cooperation in regional and international forums, including ASEAN, the Mekong-US Partnership, APEC, and the UN, contributing to dialogue, peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world at large.

Biden affirmed the US commitment to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, emphasizing the central role of ASEAN. He supported Vietnam’s increasingly important role in regional and international matters and expressed a desire to work closely with Vietnam to maintain peace, stability, cooperation; uphold international law; ensure freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea; combat climate change; and address common regional and global challenges.