SEPTEMBER 11, 2023

Remarks by President Biden and
President Võ Văn Thưởng of Vietnam at a State Luncheon

Presidential Palace, Yellow Room

Hanoi, Vietnam

 

1:26 P.M. ICT

 

MODERATOR: (As interpreted.) Today, on the occasion of the state visit to Vietnam by President Joe Biden, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, His Excellency Võ Văn Thưởng, solemnly hosts the banquet (inaudible) President Joe Biden and the high-level delegation of the United States of America.

 

We are very honored to invite your Excellency, President Võ Văn Thưởng, to deliver his welcome remarks.

 

PRESIDENT THƯỞNG: (As interpreted.) Honorable President Joseph Biden, distinguished American and Vietnamese guests, on behalf of the state and people of Vietnam, once again, I would like to warmly welcome you, President Joseph Biden of the United States of America, to Vietnam on your first state visit.

 

Your visit is truly significant. It builds on the very special character of Vietnam-U.S. relations. You are the first U.S. president to visit Vietnam at the invitation of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Nguyễn Phú Trọng.

 

During this visit, you have also joined General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng to announce the upgrade of relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development. This is truly a new page in the relationship between our two countries — an enduring, stable long-term framework that opens up a vast space for further development of the bond between us for decades to follow.

 

Mr. President, distinguished guests, a mere five months after national independence, President Hồ Chí Minh penned a letter addressing President Truman, expressing the desire to establish a bond of full cooperation with the United States. As history would have it, this desire had to confront countless turmoil and challenges — all of such we have overcome. And today, we can speak with joy that never before has the relationship between our two countries reached such flourishing height as today.

 

From former enemies to Comprehensive Strategic Partners, this is truly a model in the history of international relations as to how reconciliation and relationship-building should proceed after a war. This is a result of the efforts to walk past such challenges and vicissitudes of history by so many generations of our country’s leaders and people.

 

Over the past 50 years, we have witnessed events of such significance in the relationship and the unprecedented quantum leaps in our relationship. There have been momentous achievements in various areas of cooperation between Vietnam and the U.S. — from economic, trade, investment ties and in education and training cooperation, to various mechanisms for dialogue and joint efforts across different domains and sectors.

 

Across the comprehensive areas of cooperation between us, I would like to specifically call to attention the truly pride-worthy and striking achievements in our cooperation in addressing war legacy issues.

 

Allow me to cite the dioxin remediation projects in Da Nang and Bien Hoa airports; support given by the U.S. in various ways to Vietnamese persons with disabilities, including Agent Orange victims of the second and third generation; and the re- — and the removal of UXOs left behind after the war.

 

And most recently, for the first time, our two countries have started working together to conduct forensic identification of yet unidentified remains of Vietnamese war martyrs. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to generations of U.S. administrations and people — and to you, Mr. President, and the First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden — for your active support for Vietnam in the humanitarian field.

 

On our part, since 1973, Vietnam has actively conducted unilateral searches for American MIAs. In 1988, both sides commenced the first joint mission. After half a century, the co- — the full cooperation between Vietnam and U.S. in this area is still growing stronger and stronger. Many American MIAs lost in high mountains or deep oceans, even the — on grounds hardly ever tread, have since been found — their remains returned to their home.

 

Mr. President, distinguished guests, to quote Secretary General Nguyễn Phú Trọng, “Set aside the past, overcome differences, build on similarities, look to the future.”

 

You have also pledged your support for a strong, independent, resilient, and prosperous Vietnam. I have a strong belief that building on the length of Vietnam-U.S. relations with mutual trust and respect, and given the new driver we have established during your visit, the Strategic — Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development between Vietnam and the U.S. will continue to grow in strength and substance and bring concrete benefits to our two peoples, make positive contributions to peace, friendship, cooperation and sustainable development in the region and the world.

 

Let me take this opportunity to express my respectful gratitude to the different agencies, organizations, and individuals from both countries who, from one generation to the next, have tirelessly cultivated and nurtured the relationship between Vietnam and the U.S.

 

Of these very exemplary persons, I would like to especially honor the late Senator John McCain, former Senator Patrick Leahy, and Special Presidential Envoy John Kerry — truly close friends of Vietnam through the years.

 

Let us, in the generations to come, work together to build on these efforts to preserve, reinforce, and grow this special relationship, take it higher and further in the warm atmosphere of friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and the United States of America.

 

Let us raise our glasses to the happiness of the American people and the prosperity of the United States of America, to the flourishing Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the United States of America, to the good health of President Joe Biden, and to the good health of all present here today. (Applause.)

 

(President Thưởng offers a toast.)

 

MODERATOR: Now we have the great honor to invite Your Excellency, Mr. Joe Biden, President of the United States of America, to respond.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN: Mr. President, the — the great Vietnamese poet Nguyễn Du once wrote, “In glory they made up for their past hardships, and their love got fresher and warmer each day.”

 

Mr. President, friends, it’s an honor to be here today on this historic occasion, a day when we feel all the glory and warmth of the boundless possibilities that lie ahead — a day that may have seemed impossible not that long ago.

 

As a matter of fact, I was just in the other room with my very close and old friend, Tom Vallely, who is the guy who put together the Fulbright University. And he was helping me when I was a much younger man trying to get the nomination for president.

 

And we were sitting in a small twin-engine plane. And I looked at him, and I said, “Tom, why are you doing this for me?” He said, “Because I want to fundamentally change the relationship with Vietnam.” And he had been here as a soldier. “I want to fundamentally change that relationship.” And he’s worked his whole career to do that.

 

And, you know, for — we — as we sit side by side, Mr. President, we’re reminded of the hard work we all did to get here to overcome the hardships of the past and seize the promises of the future — one of greater opportunity, dignity, security, and prosperity for all our people.

 

And as we trace this 50-year arc of progress between our nations, there’s one common denominator: you, our people, our activities, our activists, our entrepreneurs, our scholars, our veterans, our innovators, and our leaders who never forget — like Senator, later Secretary Kerry, who was a brave soldier who fought here but wanted, every day since then, to make it better. Everyone in both our countries who’s working to make sure that people, no matter who they are, can seize potential of this moment.

 

I want to thank three close friends again in normalizing these relations: John Kerry, Tommy Vallely, and a close friend of the three of us — a guy who is not here today; a guy who, when he returned from Vietnam, came to work for me as a military aide in the United States Senate and then I convinced him he should run for United States Senate. He ran in the other party. We argued like hell from that point on, but we still loved one another. And John McCain, who I miss — we all three of us miss dearly today.

 

We know where there was darkness, you all found light. Where there was hardship, you found healing to bring us forward, to bring us together, to bring us to this day. It’s testament to how far our countries have come but, most importantly, how far we will go in the years ahead.

 

And that’s what Comprehensive Strategic Partners is about — and thank you for inviting us to have that status — going forward together, tackling challenges together, facing the future together.

 

So please join me, if you will, in — I’d like to make a toast. I quoted a Vietnamese poet to begin with, and I’m going to quote — my colleagues in the Senate always kidded me. I was always quoting Irish poets. I quote them not because I’m Irish — because they’re the best poets in the world. That’s why I quote them.

 

But all kidding aside. There is a great quote from a man whose wife I got to know after he passed away, Seamus Heaney. And he wrote a poem called “The Cure at Troy.” And this is my toast to all of you.

 

He said, “History teaches us, don’t hope on this side of the grave. But then, once in a lifetime, that longed-for tidal wave of justice rises up, and hope and history rhyme.”

 

Here’s to us making hope and history rhyme for all our people. God bless you all. (Applause.)

 

(President Biden offers a toast.)

 

1:40 P.M. ICT

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SEPTEMBER 11, 2023

Remarks by President Biden at Roundtable Meeting with CEOs

 

Office of the Government

Hanoi, Vietnam

 

12:29 P.M. ICT 

THE PRESIDENT: I apologize to my friends, I’m going to repeat a little bit of what I said a moment ago in our private meeting.

 

And, by the way, it’s worth the trip watching the press assemble, carrying those cameras. (Laughter.) I think we should have a couple medics on hand in case you hit one another with those cameras. You’re really quite athletic. I’m impressed.

 

Look, Mr. Prime Minister, nearly 20 years ago — and I’m going to repeat myself a little bit here — nearly 20 years ago, your predecessor came to Washington marking the first time an American president and a Vietnamese prime minister would meet together in the White House.

 

At the time, the — he said the following, the prime minister. He said, “This event in itself shows that Vietnam-U.S. relations have in fact entered a new stage.”

 

Well, folks, we’ve really entered a new stage now. The fact is that even today, with all of you — some of the best businesses and best techs firms and best minds in the world — shows that our partnership has once again entered a new and profound stage.

 

It really is — it is a — a significant leap from what it was before — one marked by greater investment in each other’s countries; greater innovation between our companies and our universities; and, as a result, greater prosperity for all our people — all our people in both countries.

 

And, folks, an example: We’re — we’re strengthening our supply chains, including through a new semiconductor memorandum of cooperation that we signed today. We’re deepening our collaboration on critical technologies like cloud computing, telecommunications, and artificial intelligence — which we should watch very carefully, I might add again.

 

And together, we’re lifting up our people to make this all possible, including launching new programs to help Vietnam modernize its higher education system, strengthen its STEM workforce, and seize the digital economy — and seize it.

 

So much of this progress in our innovation, in our industries and our integration is — I think is, large part, due to the leaders in this room. And I want to thank them.

 

So, my message today is quite simple: Let’s keep it up and be precise about what we do. We’re going to see more technological change — as I said, in the la- — or the room — in the next 10 years, in my view, than we’ve seen in the last 50 years. And I don’t think that’s hyperbole. We’re going to see more technological change in the next 10 years than we’ve seen in the last 50 years.

 

And we need all of you to help seize the moment and to manage the risks — you know, we risk the — associated with this to our economies and our national security as these develop.

 

We need you to help drive our collaboration into key fields like critical minerals and clean energy.

 

We need you to continue forging partnerships with each other that will deliver benefits for all of our people. And I mean all of our people, not just the wealthy. I mean all of our people. This is an opportunity to change the dynamic in both our countries.

 

Partnerships like this landmark deal signed between Boeing and Vietnam Airlines to purchase 50 Boeing 737 aircraft, which will not only support Vietnam’s booming travel industry, but it helps support more than 30,000 manufacturing jobs in the United States of America. Incredible. It’s incredible.

 

But let me close with this. There’s much more to say, but I — I want to hear from everyone else here.

 

As your former prime minister said in those years ago, this event itself shows how far Vietnam and the United States have come in our cooperation. And it really is — it’s pretty remarkable when you think about it.

 

I — I looked out the window of my hotel today, and I thought to myself — you know, I was a young man in college and all of my friends and I were assuming we were coming to Vietnam, not to visit. And — no, look what — I’m serious — look what’s changed.

 

One of the guys that taught me early on that it was going to change more was John Kerry, who was one of the leaders here. (Applause.)

 

All right, yet this is only the beginning. Together, we must go further and other countries in the region must benefit as well, because our partnership is about so much more than innovation and investments. It’s about people. It’s about our people. And that sounds simplistic, but it really is true.

 

It’s about investing in the dynamism of our societies by creating opportunities for our students.

 

It’s about building secure supply chains for our small businesses.

 

It’s about creating a free and open Indo-Pacific for all our people — for all our people. These new — this new partnership is, I think, going to help unleash the potential — our peoples’ potential and, with it, a range of possibilities we haven’t even thought about yet sitting here.

 

And so, I want to thank you all for being here. I look forward to working with you to seize these possibilities in the years ahead. And I thank you.

 

And I want to particularly thank the business community for being here and for your innovation. It really matters.

 

And I think we’re at those inflection points in history. I really do. I think what we do in the next three, four years is going to determine what the world looks like in the next three or four decades.

 

So, thank you, thank you, thank you. (Inaudible.) (Applause.)

 

12:35 P.M. ICT

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SEPTEMBER 11, 2023

Remarks by President Biden and
Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính of Vietnam Before Bilateral Meeting

 

Office of the Government

Hanoi, Vietnam

 

11:59 A.M. ICT

 

PRIME MINISTER CHÍNH: (As interpreted.)  (In progress) …and will benefit peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

 

Mr. President, today is the 11th of September.  And on behalf of the leaders of the party, state, and people of Vietnam, I would like to once again extend my deepest condolences to you for the tremendous losses incurred upon the American people following the terrorist attack on the 11th of September, 2001.

 

Vietnam’s position is to resolutely oppose terrorism under all means.  And the international cooperation against terrorism

 

is very much important.  And this, of course, entail cooperation with the United States in combating terrorism.

 

And now I wish to hear from you, Mr. President.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Well, Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for your sentiments and concern for those we lost on 9/11.

 

I’ll be going from here to Alaska to speak to several thousand of our troops in Alaska because I’m not going to be able to get back to the site where it occurred.  Every year, I’m usually at one of the sites where that act — where the terrorist act occurred.  But you were generous to think of us.

 

We last saw each other at the G7.  And you emphasized that we have to stand together and we have to stand strong and shoulder to shoulder.  You know, that was — our new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership — that’s what it’s all about because we’re both Pacific powers and advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific is overwhelmingly in our interest, as well as, quite frankly, in the interests of the whole world.  It’s in the interest of the whole world.

 

And strengthening our economic security, climate security, health security together; driving technological innovation in both our countries — a step toward this goal today — we’re signing a memorandum of cooperation — to help to strengthen our semiconductor industries.  And it’s only just the beginning of that.  We’re just beginning.

 

And so, Mr. Prime Minister, thank you again for having me here.  It’s been a wonderful visit thus far, and I’m looking forward to working with you personally and with all the people of Vietnam.

 

I’m looking forward to having a few moments from — with some of the many Vietnamese and American industry leaders.  I guess when we break, we’re going to get to see them, and I’m looking forward to that as well.

 

So, thank you for having me.

 

You know, I — I know most places at home, when they — the worst sentence in the English language is, “The President is coming.”  It means a lot of work for everybody.  (Laughter.)

 

Thank you, thank you, thank you.  And I want to thank your staff for all the work they did to make this summit work so well.

 

Thank you.

 

12:02 P.M. ICT

 

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SEPTEMBER 11, 2023

Readout of President Biden’s Meeting with
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh of Vietnam

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES 

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh of Vietnam met today at the Office of the Government in Hanoi, Vietnam.  President Biden and Prime Minister Chinh discussed the new U.S.–Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and announced the U.S.–Vietnam Semiconductor Partnership. President Biden and Secretary Blinken also convened a U.S.-Vietnam Innovation and Investment Summit with U.S. and Vietnamese industry leaders—alongside Prime Minister Chinh and Minister Nguyen Chi Dzung—to discuss priorities for expanding technology and economic cooperation, including Vietnamese investments in the United States. The President and the Prime Minister also welcomed a landmark deal between Boeing and Vietnam Airlines worth $7.8 billion that will support more than 30,000 jobs in the United States. President Biden expressed that he looks forward to seeing Prime Minister Chinh when he visits the United States in late September for the United Nations General Assembly. -------------------------------------------------------------



 

SEPTEMBER 11, 2023

JOINT LEADERS’ STATEMENT: ELEVATING UNITED STATES-VIETNAM RELATIONS TO A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

 

On September 10, 2023, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and President of the United States Joseph R. Biden Jr. (the “Leaders”) met and held talks in Hanoi, Vietnam. The two Leaders hailed a historic new phase of bilateral cooperation and friendship by elevating their nations’ relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the purposes of peace, cooperation, and sustainable development. The United States supports a strong, independent, prosperous, and resilient Vietnam.

 

In the ten years since President Truong Tan Sang and President Barack Obama formed the Vietnam–U.S. Comprehensive Partnership, the two countries have made remarkable strides in increasing mutual understanding, building mutual trust, and strengthening cooperation across all areas of the Comprehensive Partnership. Under this new framework, the Leaders underscored the fundamental principles guiding Vietnam–U.S. relations, including respect for the United Nations Charter, international law, and respect for each other’s political system, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Vietnam and the United States will continue to deepen cooperation in the following areas to ensure the interests of the people of both countries and contribute to peace, stability, cooperation, and prosperity in the region and in the world.

 

POLITICAL AND DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

 

The two Leaders underscored the need to continue deepening political and diplomatic relations, and will promote regular exchanges of delegations and engagements at all levels to strengthen mutual understanding and build and enhance political trust. The Leaders supported improving the effectiveness of current dialogue mechanisms and intend to establish an annual dialogue between Vietnam’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and the U.S. Secretary of State. The Leaders pledged to further promote relations between the two countries’ political parties and legislative bodies, including by encouraging dialogue and discussion between these bodies on priorities and each country’s practical experiences. The two Leaders will direct their government agencies to cooperate and effectively implement the cooperation programs as determined by both countries. Both countries affirm to maintain favorable conditions to complete the construction of their diplomatic and consular facilities, and ensure both sides can efficiently staff those facilities in accordance with international conventions to which both countries are parties, bilateral agreements between Vietnam and the United States, and the respective laws of Vietnam and the United States.

 

ECONOMIC, TRADE, AND INVESTMENT COOPERATION

 

The two Leaders reaffirmed the importance of economic, trade, and investment cooperation and innovation-driven inclusive economic growth as the core foundations and sources of momentum in the bilateral relationship. Both sides pledged to create favorable conditions and facilitate the further opening of markets for each other’s goods and services, support trade and economic policy, and regulatory measures to achieve this aim; and to address issues such as market access barriers via the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement. The United States applauds Vietnam’s progress in significant market-based economic reforms, and affirms its enthusiasm and commitment for a broad, strengthened, supportive, and constructive engagement with Vietnam in its transition to a market economy, and subsequently to market economy country status, under U.S. law. The United States noted Vietnam officially requested the review of its market economy status on September 8, 2023.  The United States will review Vietnam’s request as expeditiously as possible, in accordance with U.S. law. The United States appreciates Vietnam’s ongoing efforts to further modernize and enhance the transparency of its monetary policy and exchange rate management framework, to promote macroeconomic stability, and to ensure the safety and soundness of the banking system.

 

The Leaders will continue strengthening a non-discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive, equitable, transparent and rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core. Both sides applauded the progress thus far and look forward to additional substantial progress in the near future under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), which will deliver concrete benefits to the economies, workers, families, and businesses of the two countries and the region.

 

The Leaders acknowledged the importance of respect for internationally recognized labor rights based on the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Furthermore, the Leaders intend to accelerate cooperation on strengthening intellectual property rights and aviation, including through negotiations to amend the U.S.-Vietnam Air Transport Agreement under Open Skies principles.

 

The United States pledged further support for Vietnam in manufacturing, high quality digital and physical infrastructure development, just energy transition, sustainable and smart agriculture, and broader and sustained participation in regional and global supply chains, with a particular emphasis on Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region. To that end, the U.S. International Development Financial Corporation (DFC) intends to continue to finance private sector projects in Vietnam’s infrastructure, climate and energy efficiency, healthcare, and small business sectors, including climate-focused and women-owned enterprises.

 

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION, AND DIGITAL COOPERATION

 

Vietnam and the United States decided to strengthen science, technology, and digital innovation cooperation, regarding this as a new breakthrough of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The United States affirmed its commitment to increasing support for Vietnam in the training and development of a high-tech workforce. Acknowledging Vietnam’s tremendous potential as a major player in the semiconductor industry, the two Leaders pledged to support the rapid development of Vietnam’s semiconductor ecosystem and to work together energetically to improve Vietnam’s position in the global semiconductor supply chain. Toward this end, the United States and Vietnam announced the launch of semiconductor workforce development initiatives – supported by initial seed funding of $2 million from the U.S. government, in conjunction with future Vietnamese government and private sector support.

 

Vietnam and the United States pledged to comprehensively cooperate in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship.  

 

The two Leaders applauded the promotion of secure and reliable digital infrastructure in Vietnam, affirming its potential to provide new opportunities for digital capability enhancement to Vietnamese innovators to expand the growth of Vietnam’s digital economy. These efforts will aim to include support for open and interoperable network architectures including through exploring the launch of an Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN training lab) in Vietnam, secure 5G, and adoption of emerging technologies to prove new digital upskilling opportunities to Vietnamese innovators, subject to congressional notification.

 

The Leaders underscored the importance of continued collaboration between leading academic institutions in the United States and Vietnam, including through joint research initiatives, training courses, fellowships, and exchange programs focused on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.

  

EDUCATION AND TRAINING COOPERATION

 

The United States announced concrete plans to assist Vietnam in training a high-quality workforce, contributing to the achievement of Vietnam’s future development goals. The United States welcomes the nearly 30,000 Vietnamese students studying in the United States and will encourage American educational institutions to accept a greater number of Vietnamese students. The two Leaders offered congratulations on the launch of Peace Corps operations in Vietnam and the 31st anniversary of the Fulbright Vietnam program. They applauded the work of Fulbright University Vietnam (FUV) and its growing role as a regional hub for public policy training, recognizing the vital importance of investing in human capital as a critical resource for future prosperity, security, stability, and development.  

 

The United States and Vietnam recognized that enduring prosperity can only be achieved if our people have ample opportunities to learn new skills, exchange ideas, and gain international experience and understanding.  Accordingly, the United States and Vietnam will encourage the opening of the doors to their universities and laboratories in order to share best practices, scientific advances, and educational opportunities with each other, with a focus on supporting increasing numbers of Vietnamese students, teachers, scholars, and researchers participating in training and educational programs in the United States. Vietnam also welcomes the increasing number of U.S. students, scholars, and professors who are studying, researching, and teaching in Vietnamese higher-education institutions, and encourages U.S. universities to build partnerships with Vietnamese higher education institutions, to include opening campuses in Vietnam.

 

CLIMATE, ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT, AND HEALTH COOPERATION

 

The United States and Vietnam will coordinate: in the Mekong and Red River Deltas; multi-sector adaptation to climate change; pollution reduction, and voluntary technical assistance for modernized transmission infrastructure, renewable energy integration, climate market development, energy storage solutions, and the improvement of regulatory framework to enable a speedy and just energy transition. The Leaders recognized the importance of working together, and with experts outside of government, to advance low-emissions, climate-resilient agriculture, biodiversity conservation, pollution reduction, and the resilience of vulnerable communities, including through disaster preparedness efforts. The United States supports Vietnam’s efforts to increase clean energy production.

 

President Biden applauded Vietnam’s climate commitments under its Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), as well as Vietnam’s 2050 net zero greenhouse emissions target. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong welcomed the U.S. contribution to mobilizing public and private financing for Vietnam’s JETP and cooperation with the international community to ensure its successful implementation while ensuring national energy sovereignty, security and affordability. The United States committed to assisting Vietnam with both finance and advanced climate technology to fulfill its international climate commitments. Vietnam welcomes projects funded by international financial institutions, including the World Bank, in the areas of climate change response, energy transition, green growth, and renewable energy infrastructure.

 

The two sides commended 25 years of the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC) in Vietnam and welcomed the 2021 establishment of the U.S. CDC’s Regional Office in Hanoi, as well as Vietnam’s commitment to develop a Vietnam National CDC. The Leaders acknowledge the contributions of U.S. Vietnam cooperation in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and affirm to expand health security collaboration by working together on pandemic prevention, detection, and response, and other global disease threats. The Leaders affirmed the importance of cooperation on addressing disease threats at the human-animal interface, maintaining progress on immunization coverage, and supporting public health functions, such as laboratory science and One Health workforce training. The United States affirmed its support for HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis prevention and control programs, including through assisting Vietnam’s critical medical facilities, such as Bach Mai and Cho Ray hospitals, with an aim to achieve fully sustainable epidemic control of HIV and put an end to the tuberculosis epidemic by 2030, in line with Vietnam’s global commitments and national plans. The United States supports Vietnam’s efforts to expand its domestic pharmaceutical sector as part of global health security cooperation; and in this regard, expresses willingness to strengthen cooperation to increase compatibility of regulatory frameworks so that Vietnam can play an active role in regional and international medical supply chains.

  

ADDRESSING WAR LEGACIES

 

The Leaders commended close cooperation between the two countries to overcome the consequences of war, regarding this as a priority in bilateral relations that contributes to the building of mutual trust and understanding.

 

The United States and Vietnam affirmed a commitment to completion of dioxin remediation at Bien Hoa Airport, expanding unexploded ordnance removal efforts, expanding support for persons with disabilities, regardless of cause, assisting in capacity building for the Vietnam National Mine Action Center, including integrating Provincial and National efforts on mine action, and maintaining support for Vietnam in accounting for Vietnamese missing and fallen soldiers from the war, including further supporting its DNA analysis capability.

 

President Biden extended the gratitude of the American people for Vietnam’s enduring support for the accounting of and seeking remains of American personnel missing in action. Vietnam affirmed to continue full cooperation in search of American missing personnel.  

 

CULTURE, PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE TIES, SPORTS, AND TOURISM

 

The Leaders applauded the robust growth of people-to-people exchanges and will work together to promote two-way tourism, business cooperation, professional and academic exchanges, and study opportunities. Both sides intend to seek to increase cooperation between states in the United States and provinces in Vietnam in a substantive and effective manner, with concrete projects and programs; to strengthen ties among different communities, sectors, businesses, youth, and people’s organizations of the two countries via exchanges of delegations, joint conferences  and cultural exchanges in arts, music, and sport; and to collaborate in organizing activities on the anniversaries of bilateral relations.  

 

The two Leaders appreciated the substantial contribution of the Vietnamese community in the United States to the development of bilateral relations. President Biden firmly recognized the Vietnamese-American community as among the most successful, dynamic, and innovative in the United States.

  

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

 

President Biden congratulated Vietnam on its important contributions to global peace and stability, including Vietnam’s participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations, as well as for providing search and rescue and disaster response capabilities to address natural disasters in the world. Both sides intend to continue utilizing the established dialogue and consultation mechanisms between the U.S. Department of Defense and Vietnam’s Ministry of Defense, as well as between other agencies and ministries, and to cooperate effectively in humanitarian and constructive efforts such as addressing war legacies, military medicine, United Nations peacekeeping operations, maritime law enforcement and maritime security capacity, and other areas of mutual interest, in line with existing agreements and understandings between Leaders of both countries and their agencies.  

 

Both sides underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation between law enforcement and criminal justice agencies; decided to deepen ongoing cooperation on law enforcement and security intelligence; collaborate and exchange information and experiences to increase the effectiveness of maritime cooperation and efforts to counter transnational crimes, piracy, money laundering, human trafficking, illegal trafficking of narcotics and precursor chemicals, cybercrime, and high-tech crime. The Leaders decided to establish a Law Enforcement and Security Dialogue track between relevant law enforcement, security, and intelligence agencies. Both countries condemn terrorism and violent extremism in all of its forms and pledge to work together to counter terrorism and terrorist financing in accordance with the UN Charter and other relevant international agreements to which both are Parties.

 

The Leaders welcome further cooperation in defense industry and defense trade in accordance with each side’s conditions, through mutually agreed mechanisms. The United State is committed to continuing to assist Vietnam to develop its self-reliant defense capabilities in accordance with the needs of Vietnam and established mechanisms.

 

PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

 

The Leaders affirmed the importance of promoting and protecting human rights in accordance with each country’s constitution and international obligations. Both countries pledged continued support for the promotion and protection of human rights, including through frank and constructive dialogues such as the annual Vietnam – U.S. Human Rights Dialogue and Vietnam – U.S. Labor Dialogue, to strengthen mutual understandings and narrow differences. They encouraged further cooperation to ensure that everyone, including members of vulnerable groups, regardless of their gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation, and including persons with disabilities, fully enjoy their human rights. The United States and Vietnam noted human rights, regional stability, global peace, and sustainable development are mutually reinforcing. Both sides recognized the contributions that social and religious organizations continue to make in such fields as education, health care, and social services in both countries.  

 

COORDINATION ON REGIONAL AND GLOBAL ISSUES

 

Both nations intend to enhance coordination on regional and global issues of mutual concern and interest, contributing to the joint efforts to maintain peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and throughout the word. Both sides pledged to enhance coordination and collaboration in regional and international fora such as the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and the ASEAN Defense Ministerial Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus), as well as the broad range of ASEAN-related sectoral Ministerial meetings. The two sides supported the promotion of multilateralism, respect for international law, including the United Nations Charter, and the promotion of an open, inclusive regional architecture in which ASEAN plays a central role. Vietnam appreciates the United States’ strong support for ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.

 

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong welcomed the United States’ renewed commitment to ASEAN, as reflected in the newly established ASEAN-U.S Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the 2022 ASEAN-U.S Special Summit in Washington, D.C. President Biden highly valued ASEAN’s achievements and reiterated the United States’ respect for ASEAN centrality. The Leaders also applauded Indonesia’s 2023 ASEAN Chairmanship and welcomed Lao PDR’s assumption of the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong welcomed the United States’ role as the host of this year’s APEC forum. President Biden looks forward to welcoming President Vo Van Thuong to San Francisco for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in November.

 

The Leaders underscored their unwavering support for the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, without the threat or use of force, as well as freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpeded lawful commerce in the South China Sea, respect for sovereignty, and for sovereign rights and jurisdiction of coastal states over their exclusive economic zones and continental shelves in accordance with the international law of the sea as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Leaders recognized the importance of the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in its entirety, and reaffirmed their support for ASEAN efforts to conclude an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, one that is in accordance with international law, including the1982 UNCLOS and does not prejudice the rights of any state under international law.

 

The two Leaders underscored the critical importance of the Mekong sub-region in maintaining stability, peace, prosperity, cooperation, and sustainable development. Transboundary cooperation and sustainable development are crucial as the two countries jointly address new challenges and opportunities including food security and sustainable water management, supporting communities and their livelihoods, promoting economic connectivity, tackling non-traditional security issues, and working to provide opportunities for human resource development. Both sides welcomed the Mekong – U.S. Partnership and other Mekong-centered mechanisms such as the Mekong River Commission and the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS). The Leaders committed to working closely with other Mekong countries toward expanded collaboration within this framework, as well as in the Friends of the Mekong.

 

The Leaders stressed the importance of the full implementation of the ASEAN Five Point Consensus and echo ASEAN’s calls for the immediate cessation of violence and de-escalation among all concerned parties in Myanmar in order to create conducive environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and inclusive national dialogue.  

 

Both Leaders discussed other regional and international issues of mutual concern and underscored the importance of the peaceful resolution of all disputes in accordance with the United Nations Charter, seeking to ensure people’s safety and the protection of infrastructure critical to their livings.

 

The United States and Vietnam reaffirmed support for the establishment of a durable peace on and the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, and urged all parties concerned to fully and strictly fulfill their international obligations and commitments, including under relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

 

On Ukraine, the two leaders emphasized the need for establishing a comprehensive, just, and durable peace in accordance with the UN Charter and international law.

 

Since normalization of bilateral relations in 1995, the Vietnam-U.S. relationship has flourished vigorously and fruitfully, growing both in depth and substance. This new chapter will bring our partnership to new heights. Together, we will realize the aspirations of the people of our countries for a bright and dynamic future that contributes to the maintenance of peace, stability, cooperation and development across a crucial region and the world at large.

 

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2023

Remarks by President Biden and General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng of
the Communist Party of Vietnam Before Bilateral Meeting
 

Central Office of Communist Party of Vietnam

Hanoi, Vietnam

 

6:33 P.M. ICT

 

GENERAL SECRETARY TRỌNG: (As interpreted.) (Inaudible.) The Honorable Joe Biden, President of the United States of America, distinguished U.S. delegates.

 

At the outset, on behalf of the leaders of the party, state, and people of Vietnam, I would like to extend my warmest welcome to you, Mr. President, and your delegation to Vietnam.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN: Thank you.

 

GENERAL SECRETARY TRỌNG: (As interpreted.) This is an interesting and meaningful occasion for me to meet with you again as the two countries celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam-U.S. Comprehensive Partnership.

 

We highly appreciate the attention and support that you have extended to our bilateral ties in different capacities over the past years. To this day, I still vividly recall the fond memories of the sincere and frank discussions that we had during the reception you hosted when I visited the U.S. in July of 2015, and I also highly valued the exchanges we’ve had since that day to this very day.

 

I’d also like to thank you for the letter in June this year to invite me to return to visit the U.S. once again.

 

So, the last time we met with each other in the U.S., during my visit to the U.S. — since that day, you have not had an occasion to visit Vietnam. Thus, I am very delighted to welcome you here today so that we can have a discussion here first.

 

And I still vividly recall how you looked like, Mr. President, when we met with each other in the U.S. the last time around. (Laughter.) But today and as I see you again, you have nary aged a day. And, I would say, you look even better than before. (Laughter.)

 

I’ll say that every feature of you, Mr. President, is very much complimentary of your image. I myself have gray hair as well, but I don’t seem to be able to recreate the (inaudible). (Laughter.)

 

And as I’ve mentioned, I am very fortunate to welcome you here today to the headquarters of (inaudible) Vietnam to receive you, the most distinguished guest before us today. As you can see here, we have the statue of President Ho Chi Minh, and the decoration is just as it was the last time we had very cordially welcomed you.

 

Your visit to Vietnam today bears great importance. This is an excellent opportunity for the leaders of our two countries to exchange views on bilateral ties and relevant international issues of the interest of our two peoples and for the maintenance of peace, cooperation, and sustainable development in the region and the world.

 

You and your delegation will also have a chance to witness firsthand the country and people of Vietnam and experience the longstanding culture and history, the constant reforms (inaudible), and sincere and kindhearted people who always (inaudible) to further strengthen their bonds of friendship with others.

 

And this brings to mind the verse that’s written by the great Irish poet, William Yeats, “Think where man’s glory most begins and ends, and say my glory was I had such friends.”

 

Mr. President, may your visit to Vietnam be a great success.

 

That was a rather long opening, and now I wish to pass the floor back to you, Mr. President.

 

PRESIDENT BIDEN: Well, thank you very much, General Secretary. I’ll be twice as long. (Laughter.)

 

It’s truly great to see you again. And my very close friend, Senator John Kerry — Secretary Kerry, my friend, will tell you, my colleagues in the United States Senate — all the years we served together — used to kid me because I was always quoting Irish poets.

 

They thought I quoted Irish poets because I’m Irish. That’s not the reason. I quoted them because they’re the best poets in the world. (Laughter.)

 

It really is great to see to again, General Secretary. It’s been almost eight and a half years since I saw you. And being here with you in Hanoi is a great, great honor for me personally.

 

Vietnam and the United States are critical partners and, I would argue, at a very critical time for world history.

 

My friends and colleagues are probably tired of hearing me say this, but I believe that we are at a great inflection point in world history, where the decisions we make in the next 3 to 4 or 5 years are going to set the course for the world over the next 25 to 50 years. And I think we have enormous opportunities as the world changes to make it even better.

 

And Vietnam and the United States are critical partners at this very critical time. I’m not saying that to be polite; I’m saying it because I mean it from the bottom of my heart.

 

Together, we’re tracking a range of challenges — from securing a free and open Indo-Pacific, to strengthening our supply chains, to seizing opportunities like climate change, and so much more.

 

But our nations are not only united by the challenges we face, we’re united by the aspirations of our people, the aspirations they share together –the Vietnamese American generation is coming of age and is — shares that view as well — aspirations for the future of greater peace, greater prosperity, and greater security. And I’m convinced we can achieve it.

 

So, Mr. General Secretary, I — I want to thank you for having me here, because I think this could be the beginning of even a greater era of cooperation and benefit, not only for the United States and Vietnam but for the entire Indo-Pacific, the entire world.

 

I’m sorry to take so long speaking, but I’m genuinely looking forward to our meeting today, setting us on a track to work together to build a future that our — all of our people deserve. And I think we can do it (inaudible).

 

Thank you again for having me.

 

6:47 P.M. ICT

 

Sources: White House,, Youtube,, AP, AFP, WION First ViewGlobal News, Fox News, MBC, Wikipedia,  Taiwan News, Firstpost,CNN New, ABC,YAHOO, GOOGLE :
catch4all.com, Sandra Englund Sept 11th, 2023,
Rev.  September 14, 2023