President Tô Lâm Emphasizes Strategic Partnership with the US
Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: President Tô Lâm reiterated Việt Nam’s commitment to considering the United States as a partner of strategic importance and expressed readiness to work closely with the US to develop the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership. The aim is to enhance effectiveness and practicality based on mutual respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political institutions, ultimately benefiting both nations’ peoples and contributing to regional and global peace, stability, cooperation, and development.
President Lâm made these remarks while receiving US Ambassador to Việt Nam Marc Evans Knapper in Hà Nội on Thursday. He also asked Ambassador Knapper to convey his gratitude to US President Joe Biden for his congratulations on Lâm’s election as the State President of Việt Nam.
President Lâm praised the ambassador’s significant contributions to Việt Nam-US relations and encouraged him to continue fostering the positive relationship. Ambassador Knapper, in turn, congratulated Lâm on his election and reaffirmed the US’s commitment to supporting a strong, independent, self-reliant, and prosperous Việt Nam.
The ambassador highlighted the nearly 30 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations, noting substantial progress in various fields such as politics, diplomacy, economy, trade, investment, security, defense, science, technology, innovation, education, training, health, humanitarian issues, and the resolution of war consequences. He expressed confidence that the relationship would continue to achieve greater milestones.
President Lâm emphasized the need for both countries to sustain cooperation momentum and effectively implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework. He called for increased meetings and delegation exchanges at all levels, especially high-level ones. He also stressed the importance of promoting economic, trade, and investment cooperation as key drivers of bilateral relations and advocated for expanded collaboration in security and defense, particularly in combating terrorism, transnational crimes, and enhancing cybersecurity.
The President urged the US to continue supporting Việt Nam in overcoming war consequences, addressing climate change, and developing high-quality human resources. He also suggested close cooperation in multilateral and regional mechanisms such as the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). President Lâm proposed joint planning for commemorating the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2025.
Ambassador Knapper affirmed that he and US representative agencies in Việt Nam would coordinate closely with Vietnamese ministries, agencies, and localities to effectively implement the comprehensive strategic partnership. He emphasized the US’s high regard for ASEAN’s central role in regional structures and committed to promoting the ASEAN-US comprehensive strategic partnership and the Mekong-US partnership.
The ambassador concluded by stating the US’s intention to continue collaborating with Việt Nam on regional and international issues of mutual concern, thus actively contributing to regional peace, stability, cooperation, and development.
