Vietnam’s Foreign Minister Affirms Strategic Importance of US Partnership
Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn has affirmed that Việt Nam always considers the US a partner of strategic importance during a reception for visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Daniel J. Kritenbrink.
At the meeting, Minister Sơn expressed appreciation for Kritenbrink’s contributions to the bilateral ties and thanked the US Department of State for advancing the relationship to the comprehensive strategic partnership. He also acknowledged their close coordination in organizing the first Việt Nam-US dialogue at the foreign ministerial level in Washington DC in March.
“Việt Nam stands ready to work together with the US to promote the comprehensive strategic partnership in an effective, stable, and practical manner, on the basis of respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political institutions, and in accordance with the interests of the two countries’ people, for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region,” Minister Sơn stated.
Minister Sơn further affirmed Việt Nam’s support for the US’s efforts to strengthen cooperation with the region, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development both regionally and globally.
During his visit to Việt Nam from June 21-22, Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink reiterated the US’s commitment to supporting a strong, independent, self-resilient, and prosperous Việt Nam. He recalled Minister Sơn’s visit to the US for the March dialogue, viewing it as a significant step in solidifying the cooperation framework of the comprehensive strategic partnership.
Kritenbrink praised Việt Nam’s increasingly important role in regional and multilateral forums. He emphasized the US’s support for the centrality of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the regional architecture and expressed the US’s intention to enhance the ASEAN-US comprehensive strategic partnership as well as Mekong-US relations.
Both sides discussed specific measures to effectively implement the new cooperation framework, particularly by intensifying contacts and high-level delegation exchanges. They also agreed on maintaining collaboration in economy, trade, investment, war consequence settlement, and climate change response.
They shared the view that cooperation should be strengthened in emerging fields such as innovation, semiconductors, and clean energy transition. Additionally, the officials exchanged opinions on regional and international issues of common concern, emphasizing the importance of handling disputes through peaceful measures in line with the basic principles of the UN Charter and international law, including the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) issue, to ensure regional peace, stability, cooperation, and development.
During his time in Việt Nam, Kritenbrink also met with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hà Kim Ngọc to discuss issues within the Việt Nam-US comprehensive strategic partnership and other matters of shared concern.
