The comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and the US has developed in an extensive, effective, and substantive manner across multiple fields. (Photo: AFP/Getty)

Vietnam, US seek to further deepen bilateral ties

Vietnam and the United States are discussing a score of measures to further deepen relations between the two countries.

Spokesperson of the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said in a statement at a routine press briefing on August 17 in Hanoi.

According to spokesperson Pham Thu Hang, over the past time, the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and the US has developed extensively, effectively, and practically in all fields of bilateral relations, as well as in other multilateral mechanisms.

"The two countries' senior leaders have reached a consensus and the two sides are discussing measures to further deepen bilateral relations in a stable, substantive, and long-term direction, towards a new level of relations when conditions are appropriate, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and in the world," said Hang.

Vietnam and the US first established a comprehensive partnership on July 25, 2013. After 10 years, the comprehensive partnership and joint relations have been developing extensively, effectively, and substantively across multiple fields.

Each field of cooperation has its own highlights in terms of politics and diplomacy, as well as mutual understanding and respect which has increased markedly cited VOV.

The two sides have always shown respect for each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political institutions. The two countries maintain a regular exchange of delegations and high-level contacts.

Economic-trade relations are the fastest growing and represent both the strongest pillar and the driving force behind ties in general.

Over the past decade, two-way trade turnover has increased more than five times, rising from US$25 billion in 2012 to nearly US$139 billion in 2022, with Vietnam having risen to the position of the seventh largest trading partner of the US in the world.

US investment in Vietnam is continuously increasing, with investment of Vietnamese enterprises in the US also becoming a trend.

Regarding citizen exchanges, there are currently between 23,000 and 25,000 Vietnamese students studying in the US every year. Indeed, before the COVID-19 pandemic, the figure had reached more than 31,000 annually.

Vietnam is the leading country in Southeast Asia and the fifth in the world with students studying in the US, whilst tourists from this market are among the top five in terms of the number of international visitors to the Southeast Asian nation.

Vietnam to send representatives to 15th BRICS Summit

The spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry Pham Thu Hang (Photo: VNA)

The spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry, Pham Thu Hang, on August 17 said that being an active and responsible member of the international community and consistently implementing a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and diversification of external relations, Vietnam is ready to participate in and actively contribute to global and regional multilateral mechanisms, organizations and forums.

Like many countries around the world, Vietnam pays attention to the progress of discussions on expanding membership of the BRICS Group of major emerging economies - Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, according to VNA.

Hang made the statement when answering a question on the relationship between Vietnam and BRICS at the regular press conference of the ministry on August 17 in Hanoi.

According to Hang, Vietnam is one of the 71 countries invited by the host country South Africa to participate in the 15th BRICS Summit, to be held in South Africa from August 22-24.

Two conferences – “The BRICS and Africa” and “The BRICS Political Parties Plus Dialogue” will take place in South Africa. Vietnam plans to send official representatives to the conferences.

Malaysia treasures warm friendship with Vietnam

Vietnamese Ambassador Dinh Ngoc Linh presents his credentials to Malaysian King Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah (Photo: VNA)

King Abdullah Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah of Malaysia affirmed that his country greatly values the warm friendship it enjoys with Vietnam at a reception given to Vietnamese Ambassador Dinh Ngoc Linh, who presented the Letter of Credence from President Vo Van Thuong to the Malaysian King at a ceremony held on August 17 at the Royal Palace in Kuala Lumpur.

The Vietnamese diplomat, therefore, pledged his best efforts to further enhance the strategic partnership that exists between the two countries in the time ahead, reported VOV.

King Abdullah added that his nation treasures the warm friendship that exists with Vietnam, whilst he hopes to welcome Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong to visit his country in the near future.

The recent high-level exchange visits offer various opportunities for expanding cooperation in trade, investment, security, education, and tourism, he noted, adding that Malaysia believes both sides wish to sustain the development of and diversify bilateral links towards more mutually beneficial and substantive ties.

Vietnam and Malaysia originally established a diplomatic relationship on March 30, 1973, and signed a joint statement on the strategic partnership on August 7, 2015.

Vietnam, DPRK enhance defense cooperation

Deputy Minister of National Defense Lieut. Sen. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien (right) receives Colonel Kim Myong Chol, Defense Attaché of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in Vietnam on Thursday. Photo: VNS

Deputy Minister of National Defence Lieut. Sen. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien hosted a reception in Hanoi on Thursday for Colonel Kim Myong Chol, Defense Attaché of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

At the meeting, Chien affirmed the Vietnamese Party, Government and Ministry of National Defence always attach great importance to the traditional friendship between Vietnam and the DPRK, saying that the comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties and countries is a premise and foundation for the two sides to practically expand bilateral defense cooperation.

He highlighted the fruitful development of defense cooperation between the two nations in recent times, noting that despite impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it has maintained a positive development momentum and always promoted its pivotal role in the Vietnam – DPRK relations, cited VNS.

Chien highly appreciated efforts made by the DPRK officer in promoting the cooperation between the two countries' armies in recent times, expressing his belief that Kim will continue to make significant contributions to strengthening the relations between the two countries and militaries.

The two sides should focus their cooperation on different areas, including increasing the exchange of delegations at all levels; effectively implementing signed agreements; sharing experience in Party and political affairs; expanding cooperation in training, art culture, and military sports, and exchanges among young officers; military medicine; and exchanging new cooperation contents suitable to the demand of each side.

Kim thanked the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam for its attention and support for developing defense cooperation between the two countries.

He affirmed that in his position and responsibilities, he will make efforts to promote and implement cooperation content agreed by the two sides, contributing to the enhancement of defense cooperation between the two countries.

Hanoi seeks stronger ties with Washington D.C.

At the working session between the Hanoi delegation and Kimberly Bassett, Secretary of the District of Columbia. (Photo: VNA)

A delegation from Hanoi led by Nguyen Ngoc Tuan, Deputy Secretary of the municipal Party Committee and Chairman of the city People’s Council paid a visit to Washington D.C. to seek a stronger partnership with the capital city in the US.

The delegation had working sessions with Kimberly Bassett, Secretary of the District of Columbia, and Ben de Guzman, Director of the Mayor's Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs in Washington D.C., and various agencies in the city.

At the working sessions, Tuan highlighted that as the political and administrative centers of the two countries, the two capital cities will make important contributions to the strengthening of cooperation and friendship between the two countries.

The two cities should implement more external relations activities as well as meetings and delegation exchanges, while conducting investment, trade, and tourism promotion activities, and increasing cultural and people-to-people exchange activities, including the Hanoi Days in Washington D.C, VNA reported.

Bassett suggested that the two capital cities continue to bolster their partnership, adding that in the time to come, they should discuss and sign a cooperation agreement. The two sides should set up a shared information channel and assign their external affairs agencies on building of the agreement.

The official affirmed that the administration of Washington D.C. will create favorable conditions for businesses from Hanoi to conduct trade and import-export activities and assist US firms to invest in Hanoi.

The two sides also briefed each other on the socio-economic situation of the two cities, and shared experience in organizing the administrative apparatus, the mechanism to supervise public agencies, as well as the decentralization of socio-economic management. They also discussed the planning and management of urban infrastructure systems and the building of smart cities, tourism development, and social welfare policies.

During their stay, the delegation visited the Vietnamese Embassy. Tuan thanked the embassy and the Vietnamese ambassador for their coordination and proposed that the embassy continue to help promote of the image of Hanoi to international friends and strengthen the friendship between Hanoi and US localities. He also asked for the embassy’s support in increasing investment promotion and cooperation with the US side in all fields.

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