General Secretary and President To Lam met Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command (USPACOM), on the afternoon of 5/8 at the Party Central Committee Office. During the meeting, General Secretary and President To Lam affirmed that Vietnam considers the US a top strategic partner, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The General Secretary and President urged the US to promptly conclude investigations under Section 301 and limit extreme trade defense measures that could impact the overall bilateral relationship. The Party and State leader also agreed with President Donald Trump on the swift conclusion of negotiations for a reciprocal trade agreement.

General Secretary and President To Lam shakes hands with US Indo-Pacific Command Commander Samuel Paparo on 5/8. Photo: VNA

The General Secretary and President proposed that both sides promote mutually beneficial cooperation in science and technology. He stressed that achieving breakthroughs in scientific and technological development, innovation, and national digital transformation is a priority for Vietnam in realizing its strategic growth objectives.

Regarding defense and security cooperation, the General Secretary and President requested the US to maintain and expand support for Vietnam in addressing war legacies. This includes enhancing projects to improve forensic capabilities and providing records and documents to accelerate the search, repatriation, and identification of Vietnamese fallen soldiers' remains.

Vietnam is committed to creating the most favorable conditions for the search for US personnel missing in action from the war.

General Secretary and President To Lam meets with US Indo-Pacific Command Commander Samuel Paparo on 5/8. Photo: VNA

Admiral Paparo, on behalf of President Trump, thanked Vietnam for being one of the first nations to participate early in the Peace Council initiative. The Admiral affirmed that the US values promoting relations with Vietnam and highly appreciates Vietnam's growing international standing and prestige.

The USPACOM Commander agreed on measures to boost bilateral relations. He pledged that USPACOM would continue to coordinate with Vietnam to implement humanitarian cooperation programs, disaster relief, and enhance maritime law enforcement capabilities.

The US official reaffirmed support for Vietnam in addressing war legacies, accompanying Vietnam in the '500 Days and Nights' campaign to search, repatriate, and identify the remains of Vietnamese fallen soldiers.

Both sides underscored the importance of ensuring peace, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight. They supported resolving disputes by peaceful means, based on international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

In June, General Secretary and President To Lam met with Hung Cao, Acting US Secretary of the Navy, expressing confidence that bilateral relations would continue to develop stably.

At that time, the General Secretary and President requested the US to continue maintaining and expanding projects for dioxin detoxification, unexploded ordnance clearance, and support for people with disabilities in Vietnam. He also asked for increased technology transfer, information, and artifact provision to assist in searching for and identifying the remains of Vietnamese fallen soldiers.

Acting US Secretary of the Navy: "Vietnam is my origin"

Nhu Tam