General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam will visit the United States from February 18–20 at the invitation of US President Donald Trump to attend the inaugural meeting of the Gaza Peace Council.

The visit comes as bilateral relations stand at their highest level in history. In September 2023, Vietnam and the United States elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, marking a milestone that opened a new chapter in bilateral cooperation. The upgrade reflected growing political trust, mutual respect and a shared desire to expand collaboration for the benefit of both peoples while contributing to global peace and development.

The year 2025 marked two significant anniversaries in bilateral relations: 30 years of diplomatic relations (July 12, 1995–2025) and two years since the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. From former foes, the two countries have evolved into trusted partners, demonstrating how reconciliation, forward-looking vision and sustained engagement can transform relations.

Speaking at Columbia University in September 2024, General Secretary To Lam underscored Vietnam’s consistent efforts to heal the wounds of war, noting that cooperation in addressing war legacies, including the search for US service personnel missing in action, laid the foundation for normalisation and trust-building. Such collaboration is an important pillar of the relationship, particularly as humanitarian consequences of the war continue to affect communities.

“From that experience, I believe that for any relationship to develop sustainably, the parties involved need to deepen their understanding of one another’s history, culture, people, and political and socio-economic systems. More broadly, if nations understand and respect each other’s legitimate interests and work together to build trust, the world will be more peaceful and less prone to conflict,” said the Vietnamese leader.

The 2023 Joint Leaders’ Statement between Vietnam and the United States outlined ten key pillars of cooperation, including economic, trade and investment ties; innovation-driven and inclusive growth; science and technology; digital transformation; education; security; and people-to-people exchanges. Economic engagement is a central driver, while high-technology cooperation has emerged as a breakthrough area in the new phase of partnership.

Over more than three decades, bilateral ties have expanded comprehensively across politics, economics, security, education and technology. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly in September 2023, the then US President Joe Biden described Vietnam–US relations as “a model of reconciliation” in international affairs.

Former US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper also emphasised that the aspiration for peace is a shared value between the two nations, highlighting Vietnam’s contributions to international peacekeeping efforts and global stability.

Over the past 30 years, the bilateral relationship between the United States and Vietnam has truly been a special one, and both sides will continue to nurture and strengthen it, noted the diplomat.

According to Knapper, the United States and Vietnam have become good friends and important partners of one another under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework. Amid a complex and rapidly changing international environment, the multiple high-level phone conversations between General Secretary To Lam and President Donald Trump demonstrate that senior-level engagements play an essential role in enhancing mutual understanding and reinforcing shared commitments to peace, stability and sustainable development.

This also reflects the trust underpinning bilateral ties and the respect the United States shows for Vietnam, creating momentum for the two countries to work together in addressing global challenges, he said.

Former Deputy Foreign Minister and former Ambassador of Vietnam to the United States Ha Kim Ngoc said the most significant achievement in bilateral ties has been the elevation of Vietnam–US relations to their highest level ever, both in scope and substance.

The two countries are now able to cooperate across virtually all sectors. Economic, trade and investment ties serve as the central pillar and main driver of the partnership, while high-technology cooperation has emerged as a breakthrough area in the new phase of relations. At the same time, continued collaboration in addressing war legacies has played a vital role in fostering reconciliation and strengthening mutual trust.

He shared that cooperation between the two nations now extends beyond bilateral matters to include regional and global issues, contributing meaningfully to peace, stability and development worldwide.

Vietnam’s decision to join the Gaza Peace Council as a founding member further reflects its readiness to work with the United States and other partners in addressing global challenges. President Trump formally invited Vietnam to participate on January 16, 2026, and General Secretary To Lam subsequently confirmed Vietnam’s acceptance, affirming its commitment to contributing to a comprehensive and lasting Middle East peace process, including support for a two-state solution in which a Palestinian state coexists peacefully alongside Israel.

Analysts view the upcoming visit as both symbolically and substantively important. It underscores the growing strategic trust between Hanoi and Washington and reinforces Vietnam’s image as an active, responsible stakeholder in international peace-building efforts.

As the two countries move forward under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework, their cooperation continues to evolve - not only strengthening bilateral ties but also contributing to broader regional and global stability.

Party chief To Lam to attend Gaza Peace Council opening in United States

VOV.VN - General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam will pay a working visit to the United States from February 18 to 2 to attend the inaugural meeting of the Gaza Peace Council.