US Secretary of State Antony Blinken lands in Hanoi

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived at Noi Bai airport around 7:45 pm today [local time] to commence a three-day trip to Vietnam at the invitation of Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son.

Blinken at Noi Bai Airport. Source: VTCNews.

Blinken is scheduled to engage in several activities during his visit to Vietnam on April 15th. He will hold discussions with his counterpart in Vietnam Bui Thanh Son, and also meet with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

In addition, the US Secretary of State will visit Hanoi University of Technology, and partake in other events.

One of the significant events during Blinken's visit will be the groundbreaking ceremony of the new US Embassy in Hanoi. The project, which is estimated to cost US$1.2 billion and occupy an area of 3.2 hectares, is viewed as a symbol of the future relationship between Vietnam and the US.

Prior to the visit, Daniel Kritenbrink, the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, expressed his admiration, saying that it is incredible to reflect on the fact that the US first established an embassy in Hanoi only 30 years ago in 1995, and now both sides are inaugurating a new and beautiful symbol of America's commitment to their partnership and enduring friendship with Vietnam.

The recent visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Vietnam signifies the continued positive development of the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Partnership. Over the past 28 years since diplomatic relations were established in 1995, the two countries have built and nurtured a strong foundation for their bilateral, regional, and international cooperation in various fields.

The visit is especially significant as it coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Partnership, underscoring the importance that the US places on this partnership.

Both countries have been maintaining contact and exchanging delegations through various flexible means to bolster their multifaceted cooperation, build mutual trust, and address issues of shared interests.

In the first quarter of this year, many activities between the two countries have taken place, including a phone talk between General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and US President Joe Biden on March 29, as well as visits by high-ranking US delegations such as US Trade Representative Katherine Tai in February, USAID Director General Samantha Power in March, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, and a US congressional delegation led by US Senator Jeff Merkley in April.

In March 2023, the US-ASEAN Business Council and the largest-ever US business delegation visited Vietnam to explore investment opportunities. Meanwhile, Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc traveled to Washington to attend the Vietnam-US political, security, and defense dialogue.

The economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the US and Vietnam has maintained a stable development momentum. Bilateral trade has continued to grow robustly, with the US remaining Vietnam's largest export market, reaching over $109 billion in 2022 and becoming Vietnam's second-largest trading partner.

The two countries have also maintained and promoted defense and security cooperation, holding annual dialogues.

Humanitarian cooperation, particularly in overcoming the consequences of war, remains a high priority. The US government and Congress continue to increase budgets for projects such as dioxin cleanup at Bien Hoa airport, supporting people with disabilities in dioxin-contaminated areas, and providing aid for mine clearance projects.

In terms of regional and international cooperation, the US and Vietnam have strengthened their coordination at forums such as ASEAN, APEC, IPEFP, and the United Nations, and on global issues. This partnership is especially vital as Vietnam has recently assumed the role of a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the term of 2023-2025.