Vietnam, US positive on comprehensive partnership

During their meeting held in Hanoi on March 23, both sides reviewed their relations, with joint efforts made to maintain visits and meetings, as well as to bolster co-operation across multiple fields such as the economy and trade, COVID-19 prevention and control, response to climate change, and settlement of war consequences.

Minister Son stated his wish to see Ambassador Knapper continue to make active contributions to developing the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Partnership in an effective and substantial manner.

He also asked the US diplomat to co-ordinate in intensifying the exchange of visits between senior leaders of both nations in 2022 and delegations and meetings at all levels and channels, including the Party, National Assembly, and citizen diplomacy.

The Vietnamese Minister added that he hopes the US will closely co-ordinate with Vietnamese ministries and sectors to further augment co-operation in important and priority areas such as boosting post-pandemic economic recovery and growth, improving the overall resilience of supply chains, building high-quality infrastructure, ensuring green and sustainable development, and training human resources.

In response, Ambassador Knapper expressed his impression on outstanding Vietnamese development over the years, and stated his appreciation for the important results of the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Partnership. He affirmed that his nation backs an independent and prosperous Vietnam, while wishing to bring relations between both sides to new heights.

The US diplomat pledged to work closely alongside Vietnamese ministries, sectors, and agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to carry out high-level delegation exchanges between the two countries in the year ahead, whilst stepping up co-operation in all areas of the comprehensive partnership, including trade, security-defence, health care, climate change adaptation, and energy transition.

With regard to the regional and international situation, particularly the issue of Ukraine, Son reaffirmed the country’s consistent stance that international disputes and disagreements be resolved by peaceful means on the basis of abiding by the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law, especially those on respecting independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations. 

Minister Son also underscored the need to ensure the safety of civilians, including Vietnamese citizens in Ukraine, by evacuating them from the war zone. Regarding the regional situation, the two sides emphasized the observance of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and agreed to continue working closely within regional co-operation frameworks, especially those of ASEAN and Mekong sub-regional co-operation.