At the meeting, the Vietnamese President spoke highly of the Comprehensive Partnership, which has been fostered by the effort from both sides. Viet Nam and the U.S. have cooperated substantively and effectively, regionally and internationally as once was expressed by President Ho Chi Minh in his letters sent to President Truman 75 years ago.

President Nguyen stressed that Viet Nam would continue to implement its longstanding foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification, multilateralization, being a trusted friend and partner as well as a responsible and proactive member of the international community.

Nguyen affirmed that Viet Nam considers the U.S. a leading and important partner in its foreign policy. He went on by expressed that, together with the U.S., Viet Nam wishes to further develop the bilateral cooperation in a substantive, effective, in-depth manner and in long-term stability, thus contributing to building and consolidating trust and enhancing cooperation effectiveness in the coming time based on the principles of respecting each other’s political system, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.

Nguyen said he was glad to know that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the establishment of its Southeast Asia Regional Office located in Ha Noi, helping Viet Nam and countries in the region fighting against the pandemic, protecting health of the people and applauded the U.S.’s commitment to increase the budget for overcoming war consequences.

On this occasion, President Nguyen conveyed the regards of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to U.S. President Joe Biden. The Party General Secretary and the President of Viet Nam invited the U.S. President to visit the Southeast Asian country in the near future.

Expressing her honor to be the first U.S. Vice President to visit Viet Nam, Harris reiterated that the U.S. supports a strong, prosperous, and independent Viet Nam that constantly renovating and expanding international integration, holding an increasing important role in the ASEAN and the region.

The U.S. attaches importance to its relations with Viet Nam and hopes that the visit will contribute to further promoting the comprehensive partnership between the two nations, she stressed.

Both sides held that Viet Nam and the U.S. share many similarities and see large room for bilateral cooperation in a wide range of fields such as economy - trade - investment, security - defense, war legacy relief, health care, education and science - technology.

Prior to the meeting, Harris had been welcomed by her Vietnamese counterpart Vo Thi Anh Xuan./.