On September 25, during his participation in the Summit of the Future and the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly in the US, General Secretary and President To Lam met with US President Joe Biden.

Overview of the meeting between General Secretary and President To Lam and US President Joe Biden. 

At the meeting, General Secretary and President To Lam expressed sincere gratitude to President Biden for his heartfelt condolences on the passing of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. He also thanked the US government for its timely support to the Vietnamese people during the recent Typhoon Yagi.

General Secretary and President To Lam appreciated the significant contributions and warm sentiments of President Biden toward Vietnam and the Vietnam-US relationship. He noted that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's historic visit to the US in 2015 and President Biden’s visit to Vietnam in September 2023 provided strong momentum for the bilateral relationship, elevating it to its highest level, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This milestone opens new opportunities for the two nations to further develop their relationship, ensuring stability and growth for decades to come.

President Biden's remarks during the opening of the UN General Assembly, where he shared lessons from the US and Vietnam’s post-war reconciliation and relationship-building, were highly regarded by General Secretary and President To Lam. Both leaders agreed that the US and Vietnam share a common vision of building a better future for humanity through respect, understanding, and mutual recognition of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political systems.

General Secretary and President To Lam highlighted the unique nature of the Vietnam-US relationship, which, over the past 50 years, has evolved from former adversaries to Comprehensive Strategic Partners. He stressed that this relationship now serves as an exemplary model in international relations for post-war reconciliation and cooperation.

President Biden expressed his condolences to Vietnam for the losses caused by Typhoon Yagi and reaffirmed the US government’s readiness to assist in recovery efforts. He once again congratulated General Secretary and President To Lam on his new position and emphasized that the US views Vietnam as a key strategic partner in the region.

Recalling his state visit to Vietnam in September 2023, President Biden fondly remembered the warm hospitality from both Vietnamese leaders and people. He noted the historic significance of that visit, during which he and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong declared the elevation of bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development in the region and globally.

President Biden reiterated the US's support for a "strong, independent, resilient, and prosperous" Vietnam. He pledged to continue advancing the bilateral partnership based on mutual respect for each nation's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political systems. Both leaders expressed hope that the Vietnam-US relationship would continue to be a model for post-war reconciliation and future cooperation.

General Secretary and President To Lam emphasized that Vietnam is entering a new historical era, one where the nation is determined to pursue a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and diversification of partnerships. Vietnam is committed to being a reliable and responsible member of the international community, viewing the US as a strategically important partner. He expressed confidence that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the US would continue to develop in a stable and long-term manner for the benefit of both nations.

Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the positive outcomes achieved after one year of implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They agreed that these results align with the mutual desires and interests of both sides and contribute to regional and global peace, stability, cooperation, and development.

Looking ahead to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the US in 2025, the leaders agreed to continue close cooperation in implementing the 2023 Vietnam-US Joint Declaration. This will involve enhancing high-level exchanges, focusing on economic, trade, investment, high-tech sectors, and semiconductor cooperation. They also emphasized the importance of expanding collaboration in high-quality human resource development, considering it a key priority and breakthrough in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

On international and regional issues of shared interest, the two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation at regional and global forums, including ASEAN, the Mekong-US Partnership, APEC, and the United Nations. They underscored the importance of promoting dialogue, peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and globally.

President Biden reaffirmed the US's commitment to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and emphasized the importance of ASEAN's central role. He also expressed support for Vietnam’s increasing role in regional and global affairs. The US looks forward to working closely with Vietnam to maintain peace, stability, and cooperation, uphold international law, ensure freedom of navigation and aviation in the South China Sea, combat climate change, and address shared global and regional challenges.

Ngoc Mai

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