General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong holds high-level phone talks with US President Joe Biden

The two leaders expressed their pleasure at having the opportunity to exchange views on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Partnership, highly appreciated the positive and comprehensive development of the bilateral relationship in recent times and agreed to promote, develop and deepen bilateral relations for the benefit of the two countries, peace, cooperation and development, and proposed that the competent agencies of the two sides discuss specific contents to continue promoting the relationship in the coming time.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized that the results achieved in the relationship between the two countries are in line with the aspirations of the people of the two countries, promoted on the basis of respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political institutions of each country, mutual understanding, equal cooperation, mutual benefit and in the spirit of "putting aside the past, overcoming differences, promoting similarities, and looking towards the future". President Joe Biden agreed with those opinions of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed that Vietnam will persistently pursue a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, diversification and multilateralization of relations, proactive and active international integration, and being a friend, a reliable partner and an active and responsible member of the international community. To develop the bilateral relationship in a profound, sustainable and substantive manner in the coming time, the General Secretary outlined a number of major directions, including increasing contacts and exchanges between levels and sectors in flexible forms, including promoting relations between the Governments, National Assembly, and between the parties and peoples of the two countries.

The General Secretary also suggested that the two sides continue to expand and make economic, scientific and technological cooperation the focus and driving force of the relationship, implement defense and security cooperation agreements, attach importance to promoting harmonious and sustainable trade, cooperation to ensure supply chains, infrastructure and new areas such as logistics, digital economy, green transformation, and healthcare. At the same time, the two sides should promote cooperation in overcoming the consequences of war, United Nations peacekeeping, information exchange, crime prevention and other areas.

The General Secretary asked the US to continue to facilitate the increase of Vietnamese students studying in the US, welcomed the construction of Fulbright University Vietnam into a high-quality training center in the region; thanked the US for its support for Vietnam in preventing and combating the Covid-19 pandemic, and asked the US to continue supporting Vietnam's efforts.

The General Secretary stated that Vietnam is ready to cooperate with international partners in enhancing friendship and dialogue, consolidating peace, promoting development, upholding international law and responding to common challenges. In that direction, Vietnam welcomes the United States to support ASEAN's central role, and together with ASEAN countries to promote the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, and is currently participating with other partners in negotiating the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) in an open, inclusive, balanced and mutually beneficial manner, taking into account the conditions of developing countries like Vietnam.

Vietnam continues to coordinate with the United States and partners to promote peace, cooperation, and sustainable development in the Mekong sub-region and cooperate for the United States to successfully organize APEC 2023. The General Secretary affirmed that responding to climate change is one of the major policies in Vietnam's development policy, welcomed the efforts of the international community, including the United States, on this issue, and hoped that the United States would continue to support Vietnam's efforts.

US President Joe Biden affirmed that Vietnam is an important partner, supporting an “independent, self-reliant and prosperous” Vietnam, reaffirming respect for Vietnam’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political institutions, agreeing that respect is an important foundation of the bilateral relationship.

President Joe Biden discussed a number of international issues such as climate change response, post-pandemic economic and social recovery, and democracy and human rights cooperation. The US President agreed with the cooperation directions as outlined by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, emphasizing trade cooperation, clean energy, and energy transition as potential areas. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry will continue to discuss this issue specifically with Vietnam.

The United States is committed to promoting peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, looking forward to the cooperation of Vietnam and other countries in negotiating the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, supporting and cooperating to promote the peaceful and sustainable development of the Mekong region, affirming the importance of ASEAN's central role, and thanking Vietnam for its contribution to the success of the US-ASEAN Special Summit.

The two leaders also agreed on maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, ensuring freedom of navigation and aviation, not using or threatening force in international relations, implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and soon signing an effective and efficient Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Joe Biden reiterated their invitations for high-level visits to each other. The two leaders happily accepted the invitation and assigned relevant agencies to make arrangements at a suitable time.

According to VNA