Vietnam, US establish Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Vietnam and the U.S. announced the establishment of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development on Sunday.

 U.S. President Joe Biden and Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong hold a meeting at the Communist Party of Vietnam headquarters in Hanoi on September 10, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

The decision to upgrade Vietnam-U.S. relations was stated in the announcement of the Central Party Commission for External Relations on Sunday, following a meeting between General Party Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Joe Biden, who arrived in Hanoi Sunday afternoon for a two-day state visit.

According to the announcement, Party chief Trong warmly welcomed and appreciated President Biden's visit to Vietnam as the two countries celebrate the 10th anniversary of establishing Comprehensive Partnership, saying the visit has special meaning, as it is an opportunity for the leaders of the two countries to discuss bilateral relations and international issues for the benefit of the people, and contribute to peace, cooperation and sustainable development within the region and the world. Trong recalled fond memories of his exchange with Biden, then U.S. vice president, when he visited the U.S. in July 2015. He appreciated the recent dialogues exchanged between the two leaders and thanked Biden for sending a letter in June to invite him to visit the U.S. again in the near future.

The Vietnamese leader emphasized that Vietnam's consistent foreign policy focuses on independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, diversification and multilateralization of foreign relations; being proactive and active in comprehensive international integration. Vietnam is a friend, a trusted partner and an active and responsible member of the global community. Vietnam adheres to the "four nos" defense policy, which means no partaking in military alliances, no siding with one country to act against another, no foreign military bases in the Vietnamese territory or using Viet Nam as leverage to counteract other countries, and no using force or threatening to use force in international relations.

Regarding complex situations and international conflicts, Vietnam wants parties to hold dialogues and resolve them peacefully by respecting the basic principles of international law and the United Nations Charter, he said.

He said Vietnam highly appreciates the U.S.'s support for Vietnam and ASEAN's stance on matters related to the East Sea (South China Sea), adding that Vietnam requests the U.S. to continue its support and actively contribute to promoting peace, security, cooperation, ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight and the legitimate interests of countries in the East Sea, going against the use of force or threat of. It also asks the U.S. to avoid taking actions that contravene international law which further complicate the situations, resolve disputes by peaceful means, implement Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and soon sign an effective Code of Conduct (COC) in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Direct foreign investments from the U.S. to Vietnam reached over $11 billion, accounting for over 1,200 projects, placing it at 11th place among all countries and territories that invest directly into Vietnam.

The countries have also reinforced their collaborations in dealing with war legacies.

The U.S. made financial and technical contribution to complete dioxin cleanup at Da Nang Aiport and is working on clearance at Bien Hoa Airport. Vietnam and the U.S. have also worked to repatriate the remains of 733 U.S. soldiers missing in Vietnam during the war.

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