US ambassador conveys Trump’s message: Proud to be Vietnam’s partner

Expressing appreciation to Prime Minister Hung for receiving her, Ambassador Wicks recalled the honor of paying courtesy calls on Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and echoed his assessment that Vietnam-U.S. relations have never been stronger.

The new ambassador said the U.S. highly values its relationship with Vietnam and reiterated President Trump's message that Washington is proud to be Hanoi's partner.

She also conveyed thanks from President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Vietnam's senior leaders for their congratulations on the 250th anniversary of U.S. Independence Day (July 4, 1776-2026).

Economic and trade cooperation will remain her top priority, Ambassador Wicks said, expressing hope that the two sides will maintain constructive dialogue and soon reach a high-standard, reciprocal, fair, and balanced trade agreement to create more trade and investment opportunities.

She highlighted significant potential to expand cooperation in maritime security, law enforcement, and addressing transnational security challenges.

The ambassador praised the Vietnamese government's efforts to improve the legal framework and business environment and pledged to work closely with relevant agencies to advance specific cooperation projects and resolve outstanding issues in a constructive spirit.

She reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to addressing the legacy of war, describing efforts in this sphere as an important humanitarian foundation of bilateral relations.

She expressed hope for expanding programs on dioxin remediation, unexploded ordnance clearance, assistance for people with disabilities, the search for and identification of Vietnamese fallen soldiers, and the repatriation of the remains of U.S. service members.

The ambassador called for expanding cooperation in education, science and technology, innovation, university partnerships, and English-language education while supporting Vietnam's development goals under Politburo’s Resolution 57.

She pledged to remain an active partner throughout her tenure in further strengthening Vietnam-U.S. relations.

She also reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to closer cooperation on regional and international issues of mutual concern and expressed hope that the two countries would work closely together within the framework of the U.S.-led Board of Peace.

In response, Prime Minister Hung congratulated Ambassador Wicks on her appointment and expressed confidence that her experience in the U.S. government and knowledge of the region would help advance the Vietnam-U.S. comprehensive strategic partnership.

He stated that Vietnam regards the U.S. as one of its most important partners and supports its constructive role in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and around the world.

The prime minister said Vietnam looks forward to working with the U.S. to elevate the comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level for the benefit of the people of both countries.

He urged Ambassador Wicks and the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam to continue promoting high-level exchanges and working closely with Vietnamese ministries, agencies, and localities to translate bilateral cooperation into tangible outcomes.

The prime minister stressed the need to promote balanced, sustainable, and mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation, calling on both sides to promptly resolve outstanding issues and conclude a reciprocal, fair, and balanced trade agreement to provide a stable framework for businesses to expand investment, production, and business activities.

He added that Vietnam is accelerating administrative reforms and improving its legal framework to create a more transparent and business-friendly environment for U.S. companies while remaining ready to address their legitimate concerns.

On defense and security, the prime minister proposed expanding cooperation in law enforcement, humanitarian assistance, cybersecurity, and transnational crime combat.

Thanking the U.S. for its support in addressing the consequences of war, he reiterated Vietnam's commitment to searching for U.S. service members missing in action during wartime in the Southeast Asian country.

He called for continued U.S. support for dioxin remediation, unexploded ordnance clearance, assistance for people with disabilities, and the sharing of records, archival materials, and DNA identification technology to support the search for and identification of Vietnamese fallen soldiers.

The prime minister also proposed expanding cooperation in science and technology, innovation, human resource development, digital transformation, education and training, and people-to-people exchanges.