US president Donald Trump accepts invitation to visit Vietnam

Prime Minister Chinh conveyed the invitation during a brief meeting with President Trump on the sidelines of the 13th ASEAN–U.S. Summit, held as part of the 47th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sunday.

President Trump gladly accepted the invitation, expressing his eagerness to arrange a visit to the Southeast Asian nation in the near future.

Building on the Vietnam–U.S. comprehensive strategic partnership, Chinh proposed that the U.S. facilitate a visit to Washington by General Secretary Lam.

In response, Trump suggested that Vietnam promptly notify the U.S. of Lam’s upcoming trip and expressed his hope that Chinh would also visit Washington at a mutually convenient time.

Both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries in a more substantive, effective, and in-depth manner.

They also discussed ways to accelerate the signing of a reciprocal, fair, and balanced trade agreement and to further promote U.S. investment in Vietnam.

Chinh proposed that the U.S. recognize Vietnam as a market economy and remove the country from its strategic export control list categories D1 and D3.

President Trump acknowledged the proposals and instructed senior U.S. officials attending the summit, including Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, to provide an early response to Vietnam.

The prime minister also took the occasion to express Vietnam’s appreciation for President Trump’s role in promoting the peaceful settlement of recent global conflicts.

President Trump officially began his second term in January 2025, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of Vietnam–U.S. diplomatic relations and the second anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership.

In recent months, high-level exchanges between the two countries have continued, including phone conversations between Lam and Trump in November 2024 and in April and July 2025.

During these talks, both leaders reaffirmed their mutual regard for bilateral relations and discussed major measures to further deepen cooperation in the coming years, particularly in trade, investment, science, and high technology.

Earlier, during his meetings with Lam in late September and with Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son in October, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper reiterated the Trump administration’s strong commitment to strengthening ties with Vietnam.

He also emphasized the importance of maintaining high-level exchanges to sustain the positive momentum in bilateral relations.