2024, year of strong development of the Vietnam global strategic partnership

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A year after strengthening bilateral ties towards a comprehensive strategic partnership, what do you consider to be the most significant achievements in Vietnam-US relations?

We are very satisfied with the progress made by our two countries. Over the past 14 to 15 months, since President Biden and former Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong announced the strengthening of our bilateral ties, we have made remarkable progress that reflects the deepening of our relations.

The partnership upgrade itself is a solid testament to how far we have come in nearly three decades. The substantial progress made in our economic, trade, defense, health, environment, energy, education and security relations has made this evolution of our partnership entirely natural. This revaluation also aimed to send a very strong message to both peoples about the confidence we have in the future and in each other.

Our fundamental belief is that Vietnam’s success is America’s success, and vice versa. This shows that our futures are increasingly linked in terms of the prosperity, security and well-being of both peoples.

Let me highlight a few key achievements. In the technology sector, we have seen significant developments such as NVIDIA’s plan to establish a research center in Vietnam. American universities like Arizona State are currently working on developing advanced degree programs to provide Vietnamese students with high-tech education.

Our defense cooperation has also progressed. We recently handed over five training aircraft to Vietnam and dedicated US$12.5 million to Vietnam’s efforts to patrol and monitor its offshore fisheries and natural resources, ensuring Vietnam has the capabilities to defend , to protect its natural resources, its sovereignty and its territorial integrity.

We are actively building a new embassy, ​​which symbolizes our long-term commitment.

Another notable achievement concerns the field of health. In Cần Thơ, the two countries celebrated the transition from funding provided by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund to the local social health insurance system. Vietnam is now able to mobilize financial resources for the fight against HIV/AIDS using its own means, notably through the Vietnam Health Insurance, instead of relying entirely on international donors through PEPFAR. This truly represents a milestone, testifying to the success of health cooperation between Vietnam and the United States.

After six years of successful collaboration, we were pleased to finalize a direct power purchase agreement, marking an important milestone in our energy partnership.

These achievements are the result of hard work by our Vietnamese and American professionals, whether in government, academia or the media. Their commitment was decisive in the success of our joint projects.

How does the enhanced partnership contribute to regional stability and economic development, particularly in the context of emerging challenges in the Indo-Pacific region?

The United States and Vietnam share a common commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Both countries have a mutual dedication to freedom of navigation, freedom of overflight and strict compliance with international law. Vietnam represents a powerful voice in Southeast Asia to promote these important values.

Additionally, Vietnam’s economic growth helps promote stability. It is undeniable that we are seeing a rebalancing of global supply chains, with growing interest in Vietnam, particularly in the semiconductor and advanced technology sectors. This change will promote prosperity in Vietnam while simultaneously promoting prosperity in the United States. With prosperity comes a desire for stability. And so that’s something that we’re very proud of.

In addition, Vietnam of course plays a role on a global scale. Its participation in international peacekeeping missions in countries such as South Sudan and its membership in the UN Human Rights Council demonstrate a commitment to global peace and stability. This is something we are very grateful for.

The United States is committed to supporting Vietnam’s transition to carbon neutrality. Could you tell us more about the specific green energy and climate cooperation initiatives currently underway?

One highlight was the six-year effort to establish direct power purchase agreements, which now allow investors to contract directly with a solar or wind farm. This is expected to significantly boost investment in green energy as well as the development of new sources of clean energy. U.S. companies are interested in investing in green energy, including offshore wind pilot programs.

Bilateral cooperation also extends to the scientific and agricultural fields. Collaborative efforts between NASA and local academic institutions promote the use of satellite data to improve disaster prediction and relief capabilities, directly addressing the impacts of climate change.

In the agricultural sector, innovative partnerships are emerging. For example, I recently visited a farm in Can Tho city that is implementing American technology to develop a high-quality, low-emission rice field. Through this project, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and USAID worked with local farmers and cooperatives to protect the environment and reduce emissions.

For the New Year 2025, what message would you like to send to the Vietnamese people?

We are going to celebrate two important anniversaries, namely the 30^e anniversary of diplomatic normalization and the 50^e of the end of the war. In recent years, we have gone from being enemies to being true friends and partners. We have accomplished so much together.

Our trade has reached a remarkable level of 120 billion USD. Bilateral cooperation extends well beyond trade to multiple sectors, from security and defense to energy, climate and education.

The upcoming anniversaries will not be a point of arrival, but a springboard to new heights of cooperation. We still have so much to do together. The future holds countless opportunities for us to strengthen our partnership and bring new projects to fruition. I would like to see more Vietnamese students in the United States and more American students in Vietnam. So my message is fundamentally one of hope, optimism and celebration.

VNA/CVN