US Secretary of State congratulates Vietnam on its National Day, September 2nd.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Hanoi in February.

"On behalf of the U.S. Government, I extend my best wishes to the people of Vietnam on the occasion of your National Day on September 2nd," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrote in a statement posted on the U.S. State Department website.

According to the Secretary of State, he had the opportunity to visit Vietnam for the second time (in February) as the highest-ranking US diplomatic official and "witnessed significant development" in the bilateral relationship.

"In diverse areas of cooperation such as trade and investment, education, healthcare, energy, and defense, we are working together toward a goal that benefits both countries," Secretary of State Pompeo stated.

The diplomat stated that the two countries had accomplished many goals over the past year and looked forward to positive developments in the coming year, marking the 25th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations.

Secretary of State Pompeo first visited Vietnam in July 2018, his first trip after being appointed Secretary of State in April of the same year. Vietnam was also the first Southeast Asian country that Secretary Pompeo visited.

In February, the diplomat visited Vietnam for the second time to prepare for the second US-North Korea summit, which took place from February 27-28.