US Secretary of State: Support for a strong, independent, prosperous Vietnam

On this occasion, the Prime Minister thanked the US Government and people for providing Vietnam with nearly 40 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine through bilateral channels as well as through the COVAX mechanism at a time when Vietnam was facing the most difficulties, helping Vietnam control the pandemic.

Discussing the Vietnam-US bilateral relationship, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that the relationship between the two countries has a special history; right from when Vietnam gained independence in 1945, President Ho Chi Minh - Vietnam's national hero, world cultural celebrity - sent a letter to US President Truman, especially the letter dated February 16, 1946.

Having gone through many ups and downs, the relationship between the two countries has achieved long and positive steps forward, in which the historic visit of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to the United States 7 years ago laid a solid foundation, creating the basis for the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Partnership to develop deeply and extensively, on the principle of respecting each other's political institutions, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world, bringing practical benefits to the people of the two countries.

The Prime Minister welcomed the positive results in the bilateral relationship in recent times, demonstrated through the exchange of delegations at all levels, in all sectors and fields, the trade turnover is increasing rapidly and stably, reaching nearly 112 billion USD in 2021 despite the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthening cooperation in areas where the US has strengths and Vietnam has potential such as education - training, science - technology, innovation, startups...

On the basis of sincerity, trust, responsibility, respect, equality and mutual benefit, the Prime Minister proposed that the US continue to promote cooperation activities and support Vietnam in specific areas such as overcoming war consequences as well as coordinating to handle global issues such as responding to epidemics, climate change, preventing subsidence in the Mekong Delta, ensuring sustainable and resilient supply chains, etc.

Secretary of State Blinken shared his fond memories of Vietnam during his two visits to the country in 2015 and 2016, especially his deep impressions of the diligence and hospitality of the people as well as the dynamism of the Vietnamese economy.

Secretary of State Blinken reaffirmed the United States' support for a strong, independent, and prosperous Vietnam; and expressed agreement with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's assessment of the positive steps and potential of the Vietnam-US relationship.

Secretary of State Blinken affirmed that the United States considers the issue of overcoming war consequences one of the high priorities in relations with Vietnam, and will continue to closely coordinate with Vietnam in this field.

Secretary of State Blinken congratulated Vietnam on its achievements in preventing and combating the COVID-19 pandemic, hoping that Vietnam will continue to actively participate in international efforts to control the epidemic.

Regarding cooperation in responding to climate change, Secretary of State Blinken welcomed Vietnam's commitments at the COP26 Summit, affirming that the United States will support Vietnam in implementing these commitments.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Secretary Blinken also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed the US and ASEAN to hold the ASEAN-US Special Summit, contributing to enhancing comprehensive and responsible cooperation between the US and ASEAN in particular and the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions in general.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presented Secretary of State Blinken with a blue-glazed ceramic vase, a traditional Vietnamese product. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Secretary of State Blinken said that the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework Initiative is one of the US's efforts to promote an economic framework that benefits all countries, affirming that this is an open and flexible mechanism, and agreed on the need to clarify the content of this Initiative.

The two sides agreed to emphasize the importance of ensuring peace, freedom, security, and safety of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, and resolving disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world./.