US reaffirms commitment to new partnership framework with Vietnam

Co-hosting the first dialogue between the two diplomats, Blinken reiterated that the US supports a strong, independent, self-reliant, prosperous Vietnam, that is expanding international integration and taking on an increasingly important role in ASEAN and the region as well as in the international arena.

He said the dialogue gives the US and Vietnam the chance to review and promote the implementation of high-level agreements between the two countries.

Son for his part affirmed that the US is a strategically important partner of Vietnam, and that the recent upgrading of bilateral relations to a level of comprehensive strategic partnership demonstrates the strategic vision of the two countries’ senior leaders and efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation, in the interest of the two peoples, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

Vietnam will continue to work closely with the US to realise the new partnership framework, while expanding the space for cooperation on the basis of respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity and political institutions, to maintain development momentum for decades to come.

Both diplomats reviewed the progress in the two countries’ relationship, including implementation of cooperation orientations following the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership in September 2023.

They shared the view that the two countries maintain high-level contact and delegation exchanges to foster political and diplomatic relations and multifaceted cooperation.

Economic - trade - investment cooperation continues to be an important driving force of bilateral relations. Cooperation in the fields of security - defense, education - training, health, and science - technology progresses positively. Overcoming the consequences of war continues to be a bright spot in bilateral cooperation, including the ongoing dioxin remediation project at Bien Hoa airbase.

Both sides are keen to increase new fields of cooperation such as climate change response, energy transition, innovation, technology transfer and human resource training in the semiconductor industry.

The two diplomat chiefs agreed to promote the foreign minister-level dialogue mechanism to strengthen close cooperation in implementing high-level agreements, while bringing into full play existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms on politics - security - defense, defense policy, and human rights.

They agreed to work closely to organize activities in the lead up to 30 years of diplomacy between the two countries in 2025.

The two sides also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern. Son suggested that the US continue to play an active role, contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean as well as in the world at large.

Blinken assured that the US supports ASEAN’s central role in the region and it will continue to promote cooperation within the framework of the ASEAN-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Mekong-US cooperation, as well as in the fields of climate change response and United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Exchanging views on the East Sea issue, they emphasized the importance of peace, security, stability, freedom of navigation and aviation in the waters, and of resolving disputes through peaceful means, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They voiced support for fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and moving towards an effective and substantive Code of Conduct (COC).