Ambassador of Việt Nam to the US Nguyễn Quốc Dũng. — VNA/VNS Photo Kiều Trang

WASHINGTON DC — Party General Secretary and President Tô Lâm's upcoming trip to attend the United Nations Summit of the Future and the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79), and to hold working sessions in the US is of great significance, said Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyễn Quốc Dũng ahead of the visit.

The trip also serves as an opportunity to affirm Việt Nam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralism, and diversification of international relations.

The top leader's visit coincides with the first anniversary of the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership, and comes as both sides are preparing for the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2025.

Therefore, it presents an important opportunity for both nations to look back on the progress in bilateral ties, and exchange views on good experiences and lessons on the relations among countries.

As the US is preparing for its election and will soon see a transfer of its leadership, the outcomes of Lâm’s trip will help maintain and consolidate the development momentum in Việt Nam-US relations in the coming years, and contribute to promoting peace, cooperation, and progress in the region and the world, Dung stressed.

Lâm will have a packed working agenda in the US, featuring a series of meetings and interactions with leaders, friends in the US administration, the business community, scholars, and overseas Vietnamese.

Notably, he will preside over an event marking one year of the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development, and looking towards the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relations.

He will also deliver an important policy speech at Columbia University. Additionally, many members of his entourage will engage in bilateral activities with US partners during this visit.

Regarding the Việt Nam-US relations, the diplomat said that over the past more than one year since the two sides upgraded their partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development, their agencies have actively promoted cooperation across all the 10 pillars of the new relationship framework; and made persistent efforts to narrow differences and enhance mutual understanding.

Key areas of cooperation, such as politics and diplomacy, trade and investment, science and technology, education and training, defence and security, and people-to-people exchanges have increasingly deepened and become more effective and substantive.

The US continues to allocate resources to support Việt Nam in prioritised areas such as addressing the consequences of war, energy transition, and responding to epidemics. It has also promptly shared assistance with the government and people of Việt Nam during difficult times, such as in the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi.

Noting that there remain a lot of difficulties and challenges ahead, the ambassador expressed his belief that with the results achieved, significant potential, and determination of both sides, the bilateral relationship is on the right track and will achieve many positive milestones in the next 30 years and beyond, meeting the interests of the two peoples, and contributing to promoting peace, cooperation, and common progress worldwide. — VNA/VNS