General Secretary To Lam arrived in the US to participate in the inaugural meeting of the Peace Council on Gaza, following an invitation from President Trump. The special plane carrying General Secretary To Lam landed at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington D.C., US, at noon on 18/2 (early morning Hanoi time), according to VNA.

Welcoming General Secretary To Lam at the airport were: Nguyen Quoc Dung, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US; Do Hung Viet, Ambassador and Head of Vietnam's Permanent Mission to the United Nations; Dang Hoang Giang, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; Hoang Anh Tuan, Vietnamese Consul General in San Francisco; Hoang Thuy Duong, Vietnamese Consul General in Houston; along with staff from the Embassy.

General Secretary To Lam's participation in this inaugural meeting demonstrates Vietnam's support for peace efforts generally and the initiative to rebuild the Gaza Strip specifically. This involvement contributes to deepening Vietnam-US cooperation in addressing regional and global issues, aligning with the spirit of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

General Secretary To Lam at Andrews Air Force Base on 18/2. *Photo: VNA*.

President Trump extended an invitation letter on 16/1 to General Secretary To Lam and Vietnam, asking them to join the Peace Council as a founding member state. The council aims to work with the international community to promote a sustainable peace solution for the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

General Secretary To Lam accepted the invitation, affirming Vietnam's readiness to participate as a founding member state of the Peace Council. Vietnam, along with the US and the international community, will actively contribute towards a lasting, comprehensive solution for the Middle East peace process. This includes the establishment of a Palestinian State coexisting peacefully alongside the State of Israel.

Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son previously led a Vietnamese delegation on 22/1 to attend the signing ceremony of the Peace Council Charter on ending the conflict in the Gaza Strip. This event took place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

The Peace Council is considered the most viable initiative since the conflict erupted in the Gaza Strip in 10/2023. It facilitates dialogue and negotiations among relevant parties to end the conflict, aiming for a sustainable peace solution for the region. Most invited countries have accepted participation, including those that signed the Peace Council Charter in Davos, demonstrating their support and political commitment. However, these nations are currently in the exploratory phase of developing implementation plans and have not yet made specific commitments for contributions or participation.

Vietnam and the US normalized diplomatic relations in 1995. In 9/2023, the two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The US is Vietnam's largest export market. Vietnam is the 8th largest trading partner of the US and its largest trading partner in the ASEAN region.

Furthermore, the US is the 11th largest foreign investor out of 108 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with approximately 1,409 investment projects totaling over 11,9 billion USD. The US also ranks 7th among 80 countries and territories receiving Vietnamese investment, with 230 investment projects and a total registered capital of nearly 1,3 billion USD.

Pham Giang