Vietnam, US agree to bolster comprehensive partnership

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and U.S. President Joe Biden discussed measures to promote bilateral relations during their meeting Saturday night in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh.

In the exchange that took place on the sidelines of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and related meetings, the two leaders affirmed the great importance and high priority that they attached to the comprehensive partnership between the two countries.

Vietnam and the U.S. will strengthen exchanges and dialogue at all levels, prepare for talks on the phone between Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Biden as well as carry out high-level visits as conditions permit, they said.

Biden suggested the two countries continue to promote strong cooperation in order to strengthen bilateral relations, especially in areas of mutual benefit and make positive contributions to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Chinh conveyed greetings from Party chief Trong and President Nguyen Xuan Phuc as also an invitation for the U.S. president to Vietnam. Biden accepted the invitations and promised to arrange a visit at an appropriate time.

Biden had traveled to Cambodia to attend the ASEAN-U.S. Summit and the East Asia Summit (EAS), marking his first visit to Southeast Asia as president of the United States.

Chinh also held a series of other bilateral exchanges and meetings on the sidelines of the summits.

In his meeting with Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the Vietnamese PM suggested that Singapore supports Vietnam in building a digital platform and promoting digital transformation.

He also wanted Singapore to replicate the Vietnam – Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) model, in Binh Duong Province that borders HCMC, elsewhere in the country. He expressed his hope that Singaporean businesses would incorporate « greenness and sustainability » into investment projects in Vietnam in the future.

PM Chinh and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese agreed to effectively implement the Australia-Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy in order to further open the market for the two countries’ exports, especially agricultural products.

The two sides will also increase coordination on dealing with illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as well as exchange experiences on macroeconomic management.

PM Chinh also met with Indian Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and proposed that India further open its market for Vietnamese agricultural products and other goods.

The two sides also agreed to exploit the potential for cooperation in the fields of defense and security, maritime cooperation, sustainable development, energy and ensuring a sustainable supply chain.

In a meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol Saturday morning, PM Chinh called for South Korea to further support Vietnam’s industrialization and modernization process, as well as development of the culture industry.

Yoon emphasized his country’s willingness to cooperate with Vietnam in digital transformation, cybersecurity and biotechnology.

General Hun Manet, deputy commander-in-chief cum Commander of the Army and Royal Cambodian Army, also called on PM Chinh.

The two sides affirmed that defense cooperation continued to be an important pillar of their bilateral relationship, contributing to maintaining independence and sovereignty as also creating a peaceful and stable environment for development.

Chinh is in Cambodia attending the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and related meetings from November 10-13.

By Thanh Danh – VnExpress.net – November 12, 2022