US seeks deeper strategic cooperation with Vietnam bilaterally, regionally, globally

DeSombre made the remarks during a reception hosted by Party General Secretary To Lam in Hanoi as part of his official visit to Vietnam.

He conveyed congratulations from U.S. President Donald Trump to Lam on his re-election as general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and on the successful organization of the 14th National Party Congress.

The U.S. official reaffirmed that Washington places high priority on relations with Vietnam, supports a strong, independent and prosperous Vietnam, and seeks to elevate cooperation to a more strategic level, both bilaterally and in tackling regional and global challenges.

He added that President Donald Trump highly appreciated Lam’s decision to join the U.S.-led Board of Peace overseeing the implementation of the Gaza peace plan adopted by the United Nations Security Council in November last year, describing it as a meaningful contribution to international stability.

DeSombre also expressed satisfaction with his meetings with Vietnamese ministries and agencies during the visit, pledging to continue efforts to further advance Vietnam–U.S. relations in a substantive and effective manner.

For his part, General Secretary Lam welcomed the visit and commended the role of the U.S. Department of State in sustaining the positive momentum of bilateral relations in recent years.

He thanked President Trump for his congratulatory message on the success of the 14th National Party Congress, describing the event as a milestone ushering in a new phase of Vietnam’s development.

Lam affirmed that Vietnam consistently regards the U.S. as one of its most important partners and stands ready to further expand cooperation across sectors for the benefit of both peoples, while contributing to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and beyond.

He reiterated that Vietnam will continue to pursue a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, while promoting multilateralization and diversification of its external relations.

The country, he said, remains a responsible member of the international community and is prepared to play an active role in regional and global affairs.

According to the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam, DeSombre is on a February 8–16 overseas tour to Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines aimed at advancing a shared vision of a safe, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

Vietnam and the U.S. normalized diplomatic relations in July 1995 and established a comprehensive partnership in 2013.

In September 2023, during an official visit to Hanoi by then-U.S. President Joe Biden, the two countries elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, bypassing the intermediate strategic partnership stage.