Vietnamese Ambassador to the U.S. Nguyen Quoc Dung said that President Luong Cuong’s agenda includes a series of bilateral activities with the U.S., covering politics, economy, technology, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. These activities are expected to help maintain stability and foster comprehensive growth in bilateral ties.
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General Secretary To Lam (center) holds phone talks with U.S. President Donald Trump. |
The visit comes as 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of Vietnam – U.S. diplomatic relations (July 12, 1995 – 2025) and two years of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Cooperation, and Sustainable Development (September 2023 – September 2025). It provides an opportunity for both sides to review achievements under the new partnership framework and discuss orientations to sustain stable, substantive, and long-term cooperation.
Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1995, bilateral relations have expanded steadily, with the Comprehensive Partnership launched in 2013 and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2023. Over the past two years, cooperation has deepened across all fields, especially in addressing war legacies. High-level exchanges have been frequent, including phone talks between Party General Secretary To Lam and the U.S. Presidents. Ambassador Dung noted that in recent several months alone, General Secretary Lam and President Trump held three phone conversations, underscoring strong political engagement at the highest level.
On the basis of growing political trust, economic, trade, and investment ties have expanded robustly. The U.S. remains Vietnam’s largest export market. Bilateral trade has surged from 450 million USD in 1995 to over 123 billion USD in 2022, 110.84 billion USD in 2023, and nearly 134.6 billion USD in 2024. Both sides aim to raise trade turnover to 200 billion USD in the near future.
The U.S. has also been a leading investor in Vietnam, with 11.8 billion USD in foreign direct investment across 1,429 valid projects as of January 2025. Major U.S. firms in technology, energy, and logistics continue to expand in Vietnam, while Vietnamese enterprises are increasingly investing in the US. Notably, the SelectUSA Investment Summit 2025 in May drew more than 100 Vietnamese delegates – the largest ever – reflecting strong business interest in the U.S. market.
Beyond trade and investment, cooperation in science-technology, education, health, culture, and tourism has expanded. About 30,000 Vietnamese students are studying in the U.S., ranking sixth among foreign student groups. Robust cultural and people-to-people exchanges are strengthening mutual understanding and goodwill.
Looking ahead, Ambassador Dung highlighted that economy, trade, and science-technology will remain the most promising areas of cooperation, aligning with Vietnam’s development priorities and the US’s supply chain diversification goals. This creates opportunities for Vietnam to become a trusted partner in global value chains, particularly in technology, clean energy, and sustainable development.
Cultural and tourism cooperation also holds potential. The U.S. will celebrate its 250th Independence anniversary in 2026, providing opportunities for meaningful cultural events. Vietnam, meanwhile, is boosting its creative industries, which stand to benefit from access to and collaboration with the U.S. market.
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State President Luong Cuong |
Education-training is another promising field. Vietnam’s demand for high-quality human resources is rising, while U.S. expertise in advanced education can help improve training quality and further enhance mutual understanding.
With a strong foundation in place, Vietnam and the U.S. are expected to continue working together to address challenges and seize opportunities, further elevating their bilateral partnership.
Source: VNA