FM Bui Thanh Son, State Secretary Antony Blinken co-chair Vietnam-US Foreign Ministerial Dialogue: Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and State Secretary Antony Blinken. (Photo: WVR)

On March 25, 2024, in Washington D.C., at the invitation of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and to implement the Joint Statement between General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Joe Biden in September 2023 on elevating Vietnam-US relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Secretary of State Antony Blinken co-chaired the first Vietnam-US Foreign Ministerial Dialogue.

Warmly welcomed Foreign Minister Son to Washington D.C. to co-chair the first Foreign Ministerial Dialogue, which took place exactly six months after the two countries established the framework of their new relationship, Secretary Blinken noted this occasion as important for both sides to review and promote the implementation of high-level agreements between the two countries.

The United States values its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam, supporting a strong, independent, self-reliant, prosperous Vietnam that continues to innovate, expand international integration, and play an increasingly important role in ASEAN and the region as well as on the international stage, Secretary Blinken affrmed. He also emphasized the commitment of the United States to implement the framework of the new relationship and the high-level agreements between the leaders of the two countries.

FM Bui Thanh Son, State Secretary Antony Blinken co-chair Vietnam-US Foreign Ministerial Dialogue: Overview of the meeting. (Photo: WVR)

Minister Bui Thanh Son and Secretary Antony Blinken agreed upon the significance of the annual ministerial-level dialogue mechanism between the two countries. The United States is a strategically important partner of Vietnam, said Minister Son, emphasizing that upgrading the bilateral relationship is a correct decision reflecting the strategic vision of the leaders of both countries and efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation, in line with the interests of the two peoples, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region.

Vietnam will continue to work with the United States to effectively implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, maintaining its substance, stability, and expanding cooperation based on mutual respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political systems, aiming to sustain development momentum for decades to come, Minister Son affirmed.

On this occasion, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son conveyed the regards of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to President Joe Biden.

Minister Bui Thanh Son and Secretary Antony Blinken have assessed the progress in bilateral relations, reviewing the cooperative efforts undertaken since the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September 2023. Political and diplomatic relations have been increasingly consolidated, with vibrant high-level contacts and exchanges. Economic, trade, and investment cooperation continues to be a crucial driving force in the bilateral relationship. Cooperation in security and defense, education and training, healthcare, science and technology, among others, has progressed positively, with joint efforts to address the lingering effects of war remaining a bright spot. Notable is the dioxin cleanup project at Bien Hoa Airbase, along with the increasing number of Vietnamese students studying in the United States. Emerging areas of cooperation such as climate change response, energy transition, science and technology, innovation, technology transfer, and workforce training in the semiconductor industry are receiving increasing attention and promotion from both sides.

FM Bui Thanh Son, State Secretary Antony Blinken co-chair Vietnam-US Foreign Ministerial Dialogue: State Secretary Blinken said that the United States supports the central role of ASEAN in the region and will continue to promote cooperation within the framework of the ASEAN-US Comprehensive Partnership. (Photo: WVR)

Both sides also discussed measures to further deepen the bilateral relationship. They agreed to enhance the effectiveness of the Foreign Ministerial Dialogue mechanism to strengthen close cooperation between the two Foreign Ministries in implementing high-level agreements; to effectively implement existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including dialogues on political-security-defense issues, defense policy dialogues, and human rights dialogues; and to actively coordinate in organizing activities commemorating the 30th anniversary of the normalization of relations between the two countries in 2025.

Both sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern. Minister Son suggested that the United States continue to play an active role in contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions, as well as in the world.

State Secretary Blinken said that the United States supports the central role of ASEAN in the region and will continue to promote cooperation within the framework of the ASEAN-US Comprehensive Partnership. He also emphasized that the United States supports Mekong-US cooperation, climate change response, and United Nations peacekeeping operations (PKO).

Both sides also discussed the East Sea (internationally known as South China Sea) issue and agreed on the importance of peace, security, stability, freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, resolving disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) of 1982, fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and working towards an effective and substantive Code of Conduct (COC).