Secretary of State Blinken affirmed that the United States values its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam, in his first meeting with Minister Bui Thanh Son after the two countries upgraded their relationship.
On March 25, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Secretary of State Antony Blinken co-chaired the Vietnam-US Ministerial Dialogue in Washington. This was the first ministerial-level dialogue between Vietnam and the US since the two countries established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September 2023.
Secretary of State Blinken affirmed that the United States values its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam, supporting a strong, independent, self-reliant, and prosperous Vietnam that continues to innovate, expand international integration, and play an increasingly important role in ASEAN and the region, as well as on the international stage. He stressed the US commitment to implementing the new relationship framework and agreements reached by the two countries' high-level leaders, according to a statement from the State Department .
Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed that the United States is a strategically important partner of Vietnam, emphasizing that upgrading relations is a correct decision reflecting the strategic vision of the high-level leaders of both countries and the efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation, in line with the interests of the people, contributing to peace , stability, cooperation and development in the region.
According to Mr. Bui Thanh Son, Vietnam will continue to work with the United States to implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in an increasingly effective, substantive, and stable manner, while expanding the scope of cooperation based on respect for each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political systems, in order to maintain the momentum of development for many decades to come.
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington, D.C., on March 25. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The two ministers reviewed the progress made since the upgrading of relations. Political and diplomatic relations have been increasingly strengthened, with vibrant high-level contacts and exchanges. Economic, trade, and investment cooperation continues to be an important driving force of bilateral relations. Cooperation in the fields of security and defense, education and training, health, science and technology, etc., has progressed positively. Cooperation in addressing the consequences of war continues to be a highlight, exemplified by the decontamination project at Bien Hoa airport, and the number of Vietnamese students studying in the US is increasing.
New areas of cooperation such as climate change response, energy transition, science and technology, innovation, technology transfer, and human resource training in the semiconductor industry are of interest to both sides.
The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues. Minister Bui Thanh Son requested that the US continue to play an active role in contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions, as well as globally. Secretary of State Blinken affirmed that the US supports ASEAN's central role in the region and will continue to promote cooperation within the framework of the ASEAN-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He also affirmed the US's support for Mekong-US cooperation, climate change response, and UN peacekeeping operations (PKO).
The two ministers exchanged views on the South China Sea issue and agreed on the importance of peace, security, stability, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, resolving disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), fully implementing the DOC, and working towards an effective and substantive COC.
Huyen Le
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