US gears up to support for Vietnam in pandemic response, climate change: Biden

The US aims to step up support for Vietnam and countries in Southeast Asia in priority fields, including economic/trade facilitation, pandemic response, and climate change.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and US President Joe Biden.

Speaking at a meeting with Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the White House on May 12, US President Joe Biden said his administration has called on the parliament to allocate US$21 billion in support of countries in the world in terms of Covid-19 vaccines, drug treatment, and medical equipment.

He noted the US would continue to enhance cooperation with countries to address future health crises, not only for its benefit but also for the world.

Biden said the Covid-19 pandemic has now been fully under control in the US, while the economy is growing strongly with the unemployment rate at as low as 3.6%, and average income rising by 5.5%.

For his part, Prime Minister Chinh considered the Vietnam-US relationship a special one, for which both countries have overcome the past to form a comprehensive partnership with strong progress in all spheres.

Chinh called for further cooperation between the two countries in potential fields such as pandemic response, digitalization, supply chain diversification, climate change, and human resources.

He added global issues such as climate change, the pandemic, and non-traditional security threats need a global approach to solve.

“Vietnam seeks further support from the US in the development of green and circular economy, supply chain diversification, and sustainable energy transition,” Chinh said.

Meanwhile, US President Biden expressed his affection for Vietnam and its people, mentioning he and his friends John McCain during their time in the Senate had been lobbying for improvements in Vietnam-US relations.

Discussing regional and international issues of mutual interests, both leaders have agreed on the importance of respecting independence, territorial sovereignty, and the political regime of countries.

Countries, therefore, should refrain from using forces to settle differences, and turn to peaceful measures based on international law and the UN charter; ensure freedom of navigation under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

On this occasion, Chinh on behalf of Vietnam’s leaders invited Biden to visit Vietnam, for which the US President said he would do so at a time convenient for both.