Vietnam always regards US as strategically important partner: PM

PM Chinh and Knapper acknowledged the results achieved in the relationship between the two countries recently, especially after Vietnam and the US upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They discussed priority areas for promoting bilateral cooperation on the occasion of the 30th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the US.

The PM highly appreciated Knapper's efforts in promoting the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, maintaining stable development momentum with many positive results, including maintaining and promoting high-level contacts, notably the very successful phone talks between Party General Secretary To Lam and US President Donald Trump before and after being elected.

PM Pham Minh Chinh (centre) shakes hands with US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Evans Knapper. (Photo: VNA)

He affirmed the message of Party General Secretary To Lam and senior Vietnamese leaders that they attach great importance to and want to cooperate closely with President Trump’s administration to promote the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, maintain a stable and increasingly substantive development momentum, and effectively implement the contents of the Joint Declaration and Action Plan to implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the common interests of the two countries.

In the context that the two countries are organising activities to celebrate the 30th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations, PM Chinh requested the US Ambassador and Embassy to coordinate with relevant Vietnamese agencies to implement measures to deepen cooperative relations, including promoting visits and meetings at all levels, especially high-level ones.

Emphasising the need to continue making economic - trade - investment cooperation a bright spot and driving force of the bilateral relations, the PM said that Vietnamese ministries and sectors are actively addressing the US side's current concerns in economic - trade - investment ties, including sending the Minister of Industry and Trade as a Special Envoy to work in the US to co-chair the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council’s meeting.

According to the government leader, Vietnam's relevant ministries, sectors and agencies are actively reviewing the tariffs on goods imported from the US, encouraging increased imports of products that the US has strengths and Vietnam has demand, especially agricultural products, liquefied petroleum gas and high-tech products.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Evans Knapper in Hanoi on March 13, 2025. (Photo: VNA)

He emphasised that the Vietnamese Government always pays due attention to creating conditions for US businesses and investors operating in Vietnam, affirming that Vietnam wants to build balanced, stable, harmonious and sustainable economic - trade - investment cooperation relations with the US for the common interests of the two countries.

The PM also proposed the US continue to take steps towards recognising Vietnam as having a market economy and creating conditions for Vietnam to import high-tech equipment from the US.

On this occasion, PM Chinh requested the Ambassador and the Embassy to continue to prompt the US Government and Congress to increase support projects to overcome the consequences of war in Vietnam, especially the dioxin detoxification project at Bien Hoa airport, assist people with disabilities and war victims, and support the search for fallen Vietnamese soldiers; transfer technology and improve the capacity to examine the DNA of Vietnamese martyrs.

Thanking the PM for his recognition and appreciation, Knapper pledged to continue to coordinate closely with Vietnamese ministries and sectors to promote and further deepen the Vietnam - US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The Ambassador expressed his joy with the two sides actively implementing the Joint Declaration and Vietnam - US Action Plan for 2023, affirming that Vietnam - US relations have achieved many positive results, in accordance with the desires and interests of both sides.

He affirmed that the US prioritises developing relations with Vietnam based on the principle of respecting Vietnam's political institutions, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, supporting a strong, independent, self-reliant and prosperous Vietnam. The US wants to expand cooperation in all fields, including cooperation in overcoming the consequences of war, defence - security, and education – training; support Vietnam in training high-quality human resources and human resources in the semiconductor industry, and cooperate with Vietnam in essential mineral exploitation and nuclear energy research and development, the diplomat said.

Knapper emphasised that 2025 is of important significance in the bilateral relationship, with the two sides celebrating the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The US Embassy in Hanoi will join hands with Vietnamese agencies to build an effective agenda, thereby deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, he added.