Vietnam and the US establish a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Vietnam and the United States established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace , cooperation, and sustainable development, following talks between General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Biden.

The decision to elevate Vietnam-US relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was announced in a statement by the Central Committee's Foreign Affairs Department on September 10.

Below is the full text of the press release from the Central Committee's Foreign Affairs Department:

On the afternoon of September 10, 2023, immediately after the official welcoming ceremony at the Party Central Headquarters, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong held talks with US President Joe Biden and the high-level US delegation on a state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong warmly welcomed and highly appreciated President Biden's visit to Vietnam, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Comprehensive Partnership between the two countries. The visit is of special significance, providing an opportunity for leaders of both countries to exchange views on bilateral relations and international issues for the benefit of the people of both nations, contributing to peace, cooperation, and sustainable development in the region and the world . The General Secretary recalled the fond memories of his cordial exchange with Mr. Biden during his visit to the United States in July 2015, highly appreciated the exchanges between the two leaders over the past period, and thanked President Biden for his invitation to visit the United States again soon in June.

*General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong held talks with US President Joe Biden at the Party Central Committee Office on the afternoon of September 10. Photo: Giang Huy*

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong discussed Vietnam's achievements over nearly 40 years of comprehensive reform aimed at achieving the goals of "a prosperous people, a strong nation, democracy, fairness, and civilization," focusing on key directions such as economic development, social progress and equity, promoting the building of a socialist rule of law state, and proactive and positive international integration. The General Secretary congratulated the United States on its significant socio-economic achievements under President Biden's leadership and its contributions to promoting global cooperation in addressing major challenges such as healthcare, environmental protection, climate change adaptation, and food security.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong clearly stated that Vietnam's consistent foreign policy is independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development; diversification and multilateralization of foreign relations; proactive and comprehensive integration into the international community; Vietnam is a friend, a reliable partner, and an active and responsible member of the international community. Vietnam implements a "four no's" national defense policy. Regarding complex situations and international conflicts, Vietnam hopes that all parties will engage in dialogue and resolve issues peacefully on the basis of respect for the fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations Charter.

Vietnam highly appreciates the US stance in supporting Vietnam and ASEAN's position on the East Sea issue. Vietnam requests that the US continue to support and actively contribute to peace, security, cooperation, and the guarantee of freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as the legitimate interests of countries in the East Sea. Vietnam urges the US to refrain from the use or threat of force, avoid actions contrary to international law that further complicate the situation, resolve disputes peacefully, implement the DOC, and expedite the signing of an effective and legally binding COC, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong reiterated that Vietnam cooperated with the United States in the fight against fascism during World War II. President Ho Chi Minh quoted a section of the American Declaration of Independence in the opening paragraph of the Vietnamese Declaration of Independence, sending a letter to the US government proposing the establishment of full diplomatic relations. However, the relationship between the two countries has gone through many ups and downs, especially the long and fierce war, the most brutal of the 20th century, following World War II. Vietnam is pleased to note that since the normalization of relations in 1995, and particularly after the establishment of the Comprehensive Partnership in 2013, the relationship has developed strongly, profoundly, substantively, and effectively.

Based on the above important foundations, for the benefit of the people of both countries and with the desire to strengthen cooperation towards the goals of peace, cooperation, and sustainable development in the new context, Vietnam welcomes the establishment of a new level of relations between the two countries as a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Biden agreed that past experience shows that the most important factors for the development of Vietnam-US relations are full respect for the fundamental principles guiding the relationship between the two countries, including respect for the United Nations Charter, international law, and each other's political institutions, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The General Secretary emphasized that mutual understanding, respect for each other's circumstances, respect for each other's legitimate interests, and non-interference in each other's internal affairs are always of paramount importance. The specific motto for the development of Vietnam-US relations is "setting aside the past, overcoming differences, promoting similarities, and looking towards the future." Vietnam highly appreciates and values the US affirmation of support for a "strong, independent, self-reliant, and prosperous" Vietnam.

The General Secretary highly appreciated the contents agreed upon by the leaders of the two countries in the Joint Statement on elevating Vietnam-US relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Cooperation, and Sustainable Development. Accordingly, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized several major directions to promote Vietnam-US relations. These include continuing to strengthen mutual understanding, implementing guiding principles, creating long-term stability, high-level meetings and cooperation, cooperation between sectors and levels, and people-to-people exchanges. The General Secretary welcomed the strong promotion of economic, trade, and investment cooperation and inclusive economic growth oriented towards innovation, which continue to be the central foundation and driving force for bilateral relations, and the agreement between the two sides to create breakthroughs in cooperation in science and technology.

President Joe Biden expressed his pleasure at visiting Vietnam, thanked the Vietnamese side for the warm welcome extended to him and his delegation, and expressed his delight at meeting General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong again. The President emphasized that the visit was of historical significance not only for bilateral relations but also for the Indo-Pacific region and the world, outlining the U.S. position on supporting an open, stable, secure, interconnected, and prosperous region.

President Joe Biden emphasized the importance of Vietnam's role and position in the region, appreciating Vietnam's positive role on many regional and global issues, including climate change response. The President affirmed his support for ASEAN's central role and expressed his desire to cooperate with Vietnam to contribute to ASEAN's unity and prosperity. He stressed the importance of the South China Sea to international prosperity and stability, and reaffirmed the U.S. position on the South China Sea. The President also highlighted the importance the U.S. places on the objectives of the Indo-Pacific Economic Cooperation (IEC) framework.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Joe Biden speak to the media in Hanoi on September 10. Photo: Giang Huy — *President Joe Biden speaks to the media in Hanoi on September 10. Photo: Giang Huy*

President Joe Biden expressed his appreciation for Vietnam, commending Vietnam's development achievements, its contributions to international affairs, and the contributions and leadership of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. The President expressed support for Vietnam's development, including economic and scientific-technological cooperation in the new era, particularly in the development of the electronics industry, climate change response, and clean energy development. President Biden highly valued the upgrading of relations between the two countries to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which benefits both countries and contributes to common international interests.

The two leaders agreed that the talks took place in a friendly, equal, understanding, and respectful atmosphere, with extensive and comprehensive exchanges, and yielded positive results. The important outcomes of the talks and President Joe Biden's visit will contribute positively to the development of bilateral relations in the new phase, for the benefit of the people of both countries, and for peace, stability, and sustainable development. Following the talks, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Joe Biden addressed the Vietnamese, American, and international press.