Vietnam and the U.S. have agreed to raise bilateral ties to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership, the highest in Vietnam’s diplomatic hierarchy, during President Joe Biden’s ongoing state visit to Hanoi.
The upgrade takes Vietnam-U.S. relations on par with Vietnam's relationships with China, Russia, India and South Korea.
Vietnam has strategic partnerships with the other two members of the UN Security Council - France and the UK.
The various levels of diplomatic relations that Vietnam designates with other nations are, in ascending order: normal partnership, comprehensive partnership, strategic partnership and comprehensive strategic partnership.
The upgrade, up two notches, was announced in a press briefing after Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Joe Biden concluded an official dialogue.
Biden, who skipped an annual ASEAN summit in Indonesia earlier this week, arrived in Hanoi Sunday afternoon for a two-day state visit at Trong’s invitation as the two nations commemorate the 10th anniversary of their comprehensive partnership.
He is the fifth U.S. president to visit Vietnam since 1995, when the two former war adversaries normalized diplomatic relations. Vice President Kamala Harris had mentioned the possible upgrade of the bilateral relationship during her visit to Vietnam in August 2021 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Under the elevated partnership, named Comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development, the two countries will continue to uphold principles including mutual respect for political regimes, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Party chief Trong stressed the importance of “non-interference in domestic affairs,” saying the country highly appreciated the U.S.’s assertion that it supports Vietnam pursuit of becoming a strong, independent, self-reliant and prosperous nation.
Trong also welcomed the strengthening of economic, trade and investment ties and inclusive economic growth with innovation as a focal point, saying it would provide further momentum for bilateral relations.
He lauded the agreement between two sides to work together towards creating a breakthrough in science and technology cooperation.
For his part, Biden expressed his support for Vietnam’s development in the new phase, which entailed economic and technology cooperation in many areas including the electronics industry, climate change response and clean energy development.
Regarding issues related to the South China Sea, which Vietnam calls the East Sea, Trong said he highly valued the U.S.’s support for Vietnam’s and ASEAN’s stance. He requested the U.S. to continue its support and actively contribute to promoting peace, security and cooperation, ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight as well as the legitimate interests of countries in the South China Sea, resisting the use or threat of use of force.
The U.S. president emphasized Vietnam’s important role and position in the region and expressed the country’s active role in many regional and global issues including climate change mitigation. He affirmed his support for ASEAN’s centrality and stated his desire to cooperate with Vietnam to contribute to regional solidarity and prosperity.
Biden also emphasized that the South China Sea occupied an important position with respect to international prosperity and stability. He said the United States appreciated the goals of the Indo-Pacific Economic Cooperation Framework, noting that Vietnam was one of a dozen countries that first negotiated it.
* Link to US President address to the press following talks with Vietnam Party chief