Vietnam’s Party General Secretary To Lam to visit US for Gaza Board of Peace meeting

General Secretary Lam will visit the U.S. from February 18 to 20 at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump, founding chair of the board, to participate in its opening meeting.

In a congratulatory message following the congress, President Trump said Lam's continued leadership comes at an important time as both countries build on recent positive momentum in their bilateral ties.

Trump expressed hope that negotiations on a reciprocal, fair, and balanced trade agreement would soon yield results, helping advance shared prosperity.

Welcoming Vietnam's decision to join the Gaza peace initiative, Trump appreciated and praised the country's role and Vietnam–U.S. cooperation in promoting peace and safeguarding freedom, sovereignty, and independence across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

He also voiced confidence that Vietnam–U.S. relations would continue to deepen across all areas, from economic and trade to security and defense cooperation, as well as people-to-people exchanges, while reiterating his wish to host Lam in the U.S. at a suitable time.

On January 16, Trump formally invited Vietnam to join the Board of Peace as a founding member, working with the international community toward a sustainable solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine in the Gaza Strip.

In response, Lam reaffirmed Vietnam's consistent position of supporting the peaceful settlement of disputes in line with international law and the United Nations Charter, while respecting the legitimate rights of all parties.

He accepted the invitation and confirmed Vietnam's readiness to participate as a founding member, contributing alongside the U.S. and other partners to a comprehensive and lasting Middle East peace process, including the establishment of a Palestinian state coexisting peacefully with Israel.

The upcoming visit highlights Vietnam's role as a responsible member of the international community and its readiness to contribute to global peace efforts.

It also reflects the country's proactive foreign policy direction, with diplomacy and international integration defined as key and regular tasks alongside national defense and security following the 14th National Party Congress.

On the bilateral front, the trip is expected to further strengthen Hanoi's ties with Washington, expand cooperation in areas of Vietnam's growing demand and U.S. strengths, and support more sustainable trade growth between the two countries.

Vietnam and the U.S. normalized diplomatic relations in 1995, and their ties have expanded markedly over the past three decades, including an upgrade to a comprehensive strategic partnership in September 2023.

Economic, trade, and investment cooperation has continued to grow, with the U.S. becoming Vietnam's first export market to surpass US$100 billion and remaining one of its leading trading partners.

Many major U.S. corporations maintain long-term operations in Vietnam, reflecting the complementary strengths of the two economies.

The U.S. offers advanced technology, capital, and modern management expertise, while Vietnam provides a young and increasingly skilled workforce, natural resources, and a strategic geographic position.