PM Chinh’s US visit extends message of peace, stability, sincerity and responsibility

At around 23:30 p.m. on the night of May 17 (local time), a special plane carrying PM Chinh and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation departed the US, successfully concluding their working visit to both the US and the UN.

Discussing the outstanding results of PM Chinh's business trip to the US, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said that this is a "three-in-one" business trip as the Vietnamese Government chief attended the ASEAN-US Special Summit, visited the US States, and the UN. Indeed, more than 60 activities covering bilateral and multilateral co-operation at different levels were held, including at a regional level within ASEAN and at a global level with the UN.

Furthermore, leaders of ministries and sectors accompanying the PM held more than 40 meetings, working sessions, and discussions with US and international partners across multiple fields, such as economic, trade, finance, banking, security, national defence, climate change response, environmental protection, digital transformation, energy transformation, science and technology, and innovation and creation.

FM Son therefore highlighted the ASEAN-US Special Summit as an important and significant milestone in the 45th anniversary of ties between the bloc and the US. This also marked the first time that both sides’ senior leaders had come together to hold face-to-face meetings with partners after a five-year hiatus.

The meeting adopted the Joint Vision Statement on orientations regarding the relationship between the two sides moving forward, whilst supporting the upgrading of the relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership between both sides.

The two sides were therefore able to agree to co-operate in responding to traditional security issues such as freedom of navigation and overflight at seas and oceans, including the East Sea, as well as non-traditional issues such as disease prevention and climate change adaptation.

Priority was given to co-operation in post-epidemic recovery efforts, sustainable development, narrowing the gap, especially in the sub-region, including the Mekong sub-region, digital transformation, energy transformation, and sustainable green economic development.

This comes amid Vietnam actively and responsibly participating in the process of preparing, organising, and making documents to maintain both solidarity and unity in ASEAN.

PM Chinh's speeches were supported by other countries, especially relating to upholding the solidarity and central role of the bloc, co-operation for peace, stability, sincerity, trust, and responsibility, FM Son said.

Regarding PM Chinh's bilateral working activities with the US, FM Son said that with approximately 45 bilateral activities of the PM taking place continuously throughout Washington, Boston, New York, and San Francisco, it can be said that following a two-year break, these were the highest and most comprehensive direct contacts and exchanges held between the two countries.

The PM held meetings with US President Joe Biden, Patrick Leahy, president pro tempore of the US Senate, key cabinet ministers, scholars, leading business representatives, and members of the overseas Vietnamese community.

All US circles showed their recognition of the importance of the relationship with the Vietnamese side, affirming their respect for the political system, and support for the country’s independence and prosperity, while also wishing for the bilateral relationship to develop in an extensive and effective manner.

The two sides compared notes on the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Partnership and development orientations moving forward, whilst working closely to carry out important results of previous high-level visits. This can be especially seen through the Joint Vision Statement on the relationship between the two countries on the occasion of the 2015 visit to the US by Vietnamese General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Both sides consented to fully utilise the potential and opportunities for economic, trade, and investment co-operation, as well as continuing to work together to effectively solve pending problems in a bid to ensure a sustainable and harmonious bilateral trade balance.

PM Chinh represents the only ASEAN leader to speak at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), as well as being the first senior Vietnamese leader to speak at Harvard University.

The political circle, as well as domestic and foreign public opinion, highly appreciates the PM’s message of sincerity, trust, and responsibility in international co-operation. Particularly if this is aimed at dealing with global problems as well as fostering closer ties for the practical interests of both peoples, for the cause of peace, co-operation, and development in the region and in the wider world.

During the duration of the meetings held with representatives of leading US corporations and businesses, the Vietnamese cabinet leader affirmed the nation’s readiness to create favourable conditions and prioritise co-operation and investment in the fields of green and clean economy, new technology, and digital transformation.

Moreover, US business representatives all affirmed that the Vietnamese market holds a high position in their business strategy and is a potential market that they are targeting. They pledged to expand investment in the coming time based on the 25 agreements signed and presented during the course of the trip, FM Son went on to say.

Concerning multilateral activities with the UN, FM Son said that PM Chinh’s meetings with leaders of the UN's most important agencies achieved positive results, especially on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of Vietnam-UN relations which began in 1977.

Through substantive exchanges, the two sides recognised the positive co-operation achievements over the years, especially the nation’s increasingly active participation and effective contributions to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is in addition to its strong commitment to responding to climate change, engaging in UN peacekeeping activities, and fulfilling international responsibilities.

As a result, UN leaders all consider the country to be a friend, an important partner, and a responsible member of the UN, whilst affirming that UN agencies will continue to accompany and actively support the nation in priority fields. This includes sustainable post-pandemic response and recovery, green economic development and clean energy transition, climate finance, digital transformation, demining and post- war recovery, FM Son concluded.