Vietnam seeks deeper, more effective ties with United States
VOV.VN - Vietnam regards the United States as one of its most strategically important partners, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam said, calling for more substantive and effective cooperation across defence, trade, science and technology.
Receiving Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), in Hanoi on August 5, he noted that Paparo's trip, together with the recent visits by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, reflected defence cooperation's growing role as one of the key pillars of Vietnam-US relations.
The top Vietnamese leader said stronger defence ties have contributed to deepening bilateral relations, supporting peace, stability and development in the region and beyond.
He also praised the longstanding cooperation between USINDOPACOM and Vietnam, highlighting humanitarian programmes such as Pacific Partnership, Pacific Angel and Pacific Friendship, which have delivered tangible benefits to local communities across Vietnam.
Expanding cooperation beyond defence
Reaffirming that Vietnam considers the United States one of its most strategically important partners, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam expressed his hope that both countries would continue effectively implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the benefit of their peoples.
He recalled his meeting with US President Donald Trump during the inaugural summit of the Board of Peace in Washington DC in February 2026, and thanked the United States for its warm hospitality. He also reiterated his invitation for President Trump to pay an official visit to Vietnam and attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Week in 2027.
On economic cooperation, the top Vietnamese leader said he shared President Trump's view that negotiations on a reciprocal trade agreement should be concluded as soon as possible. He also urged the United States to conclude its Section 301 investigations and avoid extreme trade remedy measures that could affect the broader bilateral relationship.
The Vietnamese leader further called for expanded mutually beneficial cooperation in science and technology, innovation and digital transformation, describing them as key drivers of Vietnam's future economic growth.
War legacy cooperation remains a priority
On defence and security cooperation, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam welcomed the positive progress achieved in recent years and called for the effective implementation of existing agreements in line with the interests and needs of both countries.
He stressed the humanitarian importance of war legacy cooperation and urged the United States to maintain and expand support for Vietnam, particularly in DNA identification technology and the sharing of archival records to accelerate the search, recovery and identification of Vietnamese fallen soldiers.
Vietnam, he added, would continue facilitating efforts to account for US personnel missing in action (MIA), as it has consistently done for more than five decades.
US backs broader cooperation with Vietnam
For his part, Admiral Samuel Paparo said he was pleased to return to Vietnam and agreed with the cooperation priorities outlined by his host.
He voiced Washington's support for ASEAN centrality and pledged continued cooperation with Vietnam in humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and maritime law enforcement capacity building.
Paparo also reiterated the United States' commitment to supporting Vietnam's war legacy efforts, including cooperation under the country's 500-day campaign to search for, recover and identify the remains of fallen soldiers.
Discussing regional and international issues, both sides underscored the importance of maintaining peace, security, safety, freedom of navigation and overflight, while resolving disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Concluding the meeting, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam expressed confidence that Vietnam-US relations would continue to develop in a stable, substantive and effective manner, contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.
Earlier the same day, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army and Deputy Minister of National Defence, received the USINDOPACOM commander Admiral Samuel Paparo.
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