Visit signals new beginning in US-Vietnam relations, says VP Harris

She told the media at a press briefing that she is honoured to be the first vice president to visit Vietnam since diplomatic relations were established in 1995.

“We have had an enduring commitment to this relationship, because it matters to the people, to the security and to the prosperity of the American people, and we believe, the people of Vietnam,” Harris said.

She reaffirmed the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The US will continue to have high-level security cooperation in support of a strong, prosperous and independent Vietnam.

“We will continue to work with Vietnam to push back against threats to freedom of navigation and the rule-based international order,” she noted.

According to the US Vice President, Southeast Asia is the center of the Asia-Pacific region, and Vietnam is of special importance and significance to the United States.

“The US intends to strengthen our participation and partnership with partners and allies, in a way that is collaborative to meet the challenges of the moment and of the future together,” she said, whether it’s Vietnam, Singapore, Southeast Asia or the Indo Pacific.

Harris said that she knew COVID-19 is No1 concern for Vietnamese people at present. She assured that the US will be with Vietnam in this battle, saying the US has provided donations of vaccines and freezers to Vietnam.

During the visit Harris announced the Biden administration to donate more than 1 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine to Vietnam, of which nearly 800,000 doses were transferred on August 26 and the remainder will delivered the following day.

The US earlier donated five million doses of the Moderna vaccine and 77 deep freezers to preserve and distribute the vaccines.

In the remarks, she also noted how the two countries have strengthened economic ties during the pandemic.

“During our meetings with the officials and leaders here in Vietnam, I advocated for a reduction of tariffs on American agricultural goods and there was a positive reaction, and we’re looking forward to following up on that conversation.”

The US has also launched initiatives that will help Vietnam transition to a more digital economy and help grow women- and ethnic minority-owned businesses, she said.

Addressing the climate crisis and green transition were also issues of much discussion.

The United States welcomed Vietnam joining the Agricultural Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM4C), an initiative announced at President Biden’s Leaders’ Summit on Climate that will be launched at COP-26 in November 2021.

Harris said she has had “extensive conversations” with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh regarding this smart agriculture initiative, noting that the Vietnamese leader is interested in what the US is doing with satellite technologies to help farmers predict weather cycles.

Vice President Kamala Harris visited Vietnam from August 24-26. After meeting with Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, she met with President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to discuss bilateral and regional issues of mutual concerns.

The US Vice President also attended the opening of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) office in Southeast Asia and witnessed the signing ceremony of a land lease agreement to build a new headquarters of the US Embassy in Hanoi. The project has a total budget of US$1.2 billion with a 99-year land lease term.