IRIA News

The U.S. and Vietnam upgraded bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as President Joe Biden arrived in Hanoi on September 10, 2023, on a historic state visit to strengthen bilateral relations for achieving shared goals of peace, prosperity, and sustainable development.

While in Hanoi, the U.S. president held meetings with the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong, President Võ Văn Thưởng, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh of Vietnam.

During his meeting with Vietnam’s Prime Minister Chinh, Biden discussed the new U.S.–Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and announced the U.S.–Vietnam Semiconductor Partnership. Both leaders agreed to expand technology and economic cooperation and welcomed a landmark deal between Boeing and Vietnam Airlines worth $7.8 billion that will support more than 30,000 jobs in the United States.

Vietnam’s President Thưởng called the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership “a new page” in U.S.-Vietnam relations that opens up a vast space for further development of the bond between the two countries.

“From former enemies to Comprehensive Strategic Partners, this is truly a model in the history of international relations as to how reconciliation and relationship-building should proceed after a war,” he added.

It was great sitting down with Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính of Vietnam in Hanoi.

Between our U.S.–Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and our new Semiconductor Partnership, the future we’re writing together will be strong. pic.twitter.com/RQaRZQDAGl

— President Biden (@POTUS) September 11, 2023

Under the new framework of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the leaders of Vietnam and the U.S. underscored the fundamental principles guiding bilateral relations, including respect for the United Nations Charter, international law, and respect for each other’s political system, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

According to the White House statement, the U.S. president and Vietnam’s general secretary underscored the need to “continue deepening political and diplomatic relations, and will promote regular exchanges of delegations and engagements at all levels to strengthen mutual understanding and build and enhance political trust.”

Defense and Security Cooperation

During the meeting, the leaders of the U.S. and Vietnam agreed to continue utilizing the established dialogue and consultation mechanisms between the U.S. Department of Defense and Vietnam’s Ministry of Defense, as well as between other agencies and ministries of the two countries, to cooperate effectively in humanitarian and constructive efforts.

The U.S. and Vietnam also agreed to strengthen cooperation between law enforcement and criminal justice agencies of the two countries and deepen the ongoing cooperation on “law enforcement and security intelligence; collaborate and exchange information and experiences to increase the effectiveness of maritime cooperation and efforts to counter transnational crimes, piracy, money laundering, human trafficking, illegal trafficking of narcotics and precursor chemicals, cybercrime, and high-tech crime,” the White House statement highlighted.

The leaders of both countries also welcomed further cooperation in defense industry and defense trade through mutually agreed mechanisms. The U.S. side agreed to continue to assist Vietnam in developing its self-reliant defense capabilities in accordance with the needs of Vietnam and established mechanisms, the statement added.

Semiconductor Partnership

The United States and Vietnam announced a set of new initiatives to boost economic partnership including a new semiconductor partnership to support resilient semiconductor supply chains for U.S. industry.

According to the White House statement, “The United States recognizes Vietnam’s potential to play a critical role in building resilient semiconductor supply chains, particularly to expand capacity in reliable partners where it cannot be re-shored to the United States and further promote manufacturing and industry development at home under the U.S. CHIPS Act.”

“The United States will partner with Vietnam to further develop Vietnam’s current semiconductor ecosystem, regulatory framework, and workforce and infrastructure needs,” the statement added.

Science and Technology Agreement

The United States and Vietnam agreed to expand bilateral joint research through the Vietnam-U.S. Science and Technology Agreement for Research (VUSTAR).

“VUSTAR will identify priorities for potential collaboration in areas that include artificial intelligence, R&D and governance, health and medical science, climate science, biotechnology, and conservation,” the White House statement read.

Climate, Energy, Environment, and Health Cooperation

The United States and Vietnam also underscored the importance of expanding cooperation in the fields of climate, energy, and health through new projects and mechanisms.

The U.S. and Vietnam plan to launch a bilateral climate working group to strengthen adaptation and resilience to the impacts of climate change such as the Net Zero World Program. Both countries will also launch new projects to build climate resilience for agricultural-based economies of the Mekong Delta.

The U.S. and Vietnam also plan to expand energy storage capacity, and strengthen technical cooperation to support “Vietnam’s efforts to quantify its Rare Earth Elements (REE) resources and economic potential, attract quality investment for integrated REE sector development”.

Enhancing Cooperation of Regional and Global Issues

Vietnam and the United States agreed to further enhance coordination on regional and global issues of mutual concern and interest, contributing to the joint efforts to maintain peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region.

Thank you for the warm welcome, Vietnam.

I know this will be a historic visit. pic.twitter.com/df2h4uMFuk

— President Biden (@POTUS) September 10, 2023

According to the White House statement, “Both sides pledged to enhance coordination and collaboration in regional and international fora such as the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and the ASEAN Defense Ministerial Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus), as well as the broad range of ASEAN-related sectoral Ministerial meetings.”

Vietnamese leaders also welcomed the United States’ strong support for ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.