Outgoing US Ambassador Knapper pledges continued support for Vietnam

At the meeting, Knapper said he was pleased to witness the increasingly substantive development of bilateral ties, which continue to serve as a model in international relations.

He also thanked the PM for his support in advancing cooperation between the two countries.

The ambassador will conclude his four-year tenure in Vietnam on January 18, according to a press release issued by the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi on Saturday.

Knapper arrived in Hanoi on January 27, 2022 and presented his credentials on February 11, 2022.

During his tenure, Vietnam-U.S. relations were elevated from a comprehensive partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership in September 2023.

Knapper reiterated his confidence in the partnership’s continued growth and pledged to continue supporting relations between the two countries as a friend of Vietnam in any future capacity, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.

“Contributing to the growth and evolution of our bilateral relations since my first tour in Hanoi from 2004 to 2007, to where we are today, has been the honor of my lifetime,” Ambassador Knapper said in the release.

He noted that he had traveled widely across Vietnam, meeting government officials, students, doctors, farmers, entrepreneurs, and start-up founders, expressing admiration for the country’s culture and dynamism.

“I am very proud of the U.S. Mission’s work in strengthening the U.S.-Vietnam relationship during my time here. This country will always hold a special place for my family and me,” he added.

For his part, PM Chinh congratulated Ambassador Knapper on a successful tenure, highlighting his notable achievements and positive contributions to Vietnam-U.S. relations.

He emphasized that Vietnam values its relationship with the U.S. and looks forward to further strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership.

The PM stressed the importance of continuing high-level exchanges to reinforce political trust and provide momentum for deeper cooperation.

Highlighting economic and trade ties as a key pillar of the bilateral relationship, Chinh thanked the ambassador for facilitating market access for Vietnamese goods and encouraging U.S. businesses to expand investment and operations in Vietnam.

He also urged the U.S. to enhance cooperation on technology transfer and digital transformation, recognize Vietnam’s market economy status, and remove high-tech export restrictions.

The PM expressed confidence that negotiations on a reciprocal, fair, and balanced trade agreement would soon conclude, creating a stable business environment with tangible benefits for enterprises in both countries.

In response to Chinh’s assessments and proposals, Knapper agreed that both sides need to continue expanding cooperation in key areas such as political and diplomatic affairs, security and defense, trade and investment, energy, humanitarian aid and post-war remediation, science and technology, and high-quality human resource training.

Regarding collaboration to address the consequences of war, Chinh acknowledged Knapper’s persistent efforts and called on both sides to continue strengthening cooperation in this area.

The PM also reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to an independent, self-reliant, resilient, peaceful, and cooperative foreign policy, pursued through a multilateral and diversified approach.

He added that the country maintains the ‘four no’s’ defense policy: no military alliances, no siding with one country against another, no foreign military bases on Vietnamese soil, and no use or threat of force in international relations.

On international and regional issues, Chinh emphasized adherence to the United Nations Charter, international law, and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

He urged the U.S. to continue supporting ASEAN’s positions on regional issues and to uphold peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the region in accordance with international law.