Vietnam, U.S. lift up ties to comprehensive strategic partnership

The two countries announced the formation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Cooperation, and Sustainable Development on Sunday, a significant and historic upgrade from the current Comprehensive Partnership.

The move came after negotiations between General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and US President Joe Biden at the CPV Central Committee headquarters in Hanoi, reported Vietnam News Agency, 

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Joe Biden agree that reality has shown that total respect for the fundamental principles guiding the bilateral relationship, such as the UN Charter, international law, political independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, is the most important factor in the development of Vietnam-US relations.

Trong welcomed and appreciated President Biden's visit to Vietnam, which coincided with the tenth anniversary of the two nations' Comprehensive Partnership. On the invitation of the Vietnamese Party head, he is in Vietnam for a two-day State visit.

Vietnam and the United States normalized relations in July 1995, and the relationship was promoted to comprehensive cooperation in July 2013.

President Biden expressed his delight at visiting Vietnam and thanked the Vietnamese people for their warm welcome. He went on to say how pleased he was to see the General Secretary again.

The US president emphasized that the visit is momentous not only for bilateral relations between the two countries but also for the Indo-Pacific region and the world.

He emphasized the United States' commitment to promoting an open, stable, safe, linked, and wealthy region.

President Biden emphasized Vietnam's importance and position in the area, as well as its positive participation in a variety of regional and global concerns, including climate change response.

The US President reiterated his support for ASEAN's vital role and expressed a willingness to work with Vietnam to contribute to ASEAN's unity and prosperity.

He emphasized the significance of the South China Sea for international prosperity and stability, and he reaffirmed the US position on the South China Sea. The President also stressed the relevance of the Indo-Pacific Economic Cooperation Framework goals to the United States.

President Joe Biden voiced his admiration for Vietnam and praised the country's development achievements and contributions to international issues, as well as General Secretary Trong's leadership role.

Aside from special relations with Laos and Cambodia, Vietnam now has Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships with China (2008), Russia (2012), India (2016), the Republic of Korea (2022), and the United States (2023).

Source: VGP