In his opening remarks, VUFO President Phan Anh Son stated that the seminar was part of a series of events marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the U.S. (1995 – 2025). He said that this gathering provided a platform for scholars, diplomats, and researchers to exchange views and assess the achievements and outcomes of Vietnam – U.S. relations in all fields over the past 30 years, especially in politics and diplomacy, economy and trade, science and technology, education, and people-to-people exchanges. It was also an opportunity to evaluate the prospects for Vietnam – U.S. cooperation and to analyze the opportunities and challenges affecting the future of bilateral relations.
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VUFO President Phan Anh Son speaks at the seminar |
U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper conveyed a video message of greetings to the seminar, affirming that the past 30 years of diplomatic ties have witnessed significant progress in various areas between Vietnam and the U.S.
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Delegates watch a video message from U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper |
In particular, bilateral trade has grown steadily, with an annual value now surpassing 150 billion USD. Major American corporations, including Boeing, Apple, Qualcomm, and Citigroup, have been actively investing in Vietnam, contributing to job creation and consolidation of global supply chains. Academic institutions and research centers in both nations are expanding their partnerships. In the spheres of technology and innovation, the two sides are intensifying cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and clean energy.
He added that Vietnam’s stature in the international arena is increasing, and the U.S. has always regarded Vietnam as an important partner in the region.
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Dr. Satu Limaye presents the research project’s summary. |
During the seminar, participants engaged in discussions and listened to presentations by domestic and international experts and scholars, who delivered assessment reports on Vietnam – U.S. relations, including a research project by the East-West Center titled “Vietnam is an important partner of the United States, and the United States is an important partner of Vietnam.”
Briefing on the project’s content, Dr. Satu Limaye, Vice President of the East-West Center and Director of the East-West Center in Washington, stated that Vietnam – U.S. relations have developed significantly over the past three decades, marked by expanding economic ties, strong security cooperation, and common regional goals.
The U.S. is currently one of Vietnam’s largest trading partners. Both countries have benefited from increased trade and investment, especially in the high-tech sector. Diplomatic relations, normalized in 1995, evolved into a comprehensive partnership in 2013 and were upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2023. The upgrade of relations demonstrates a deeper level of cooperation in diplomacy, trade, economy, defense and security, regional stability, as well as science, technology, and innovation.
Beyond these areas, the U.S. and Vietnam have worked together to address shared challenges, such as disaster relief, healthcare, and war legacy settlement efforts. Furthermore, academic exchanges and coordination, and cultural engagement continue to fortify people-to-people ties. Over 30,000 Vietnamese students studied at U.S. educational institutions in the 2023-2024 academic year, and 135,000 Vietnamese visited the U.S. in 2024, contributing 1.7 billion USD to the U.S. economy. In return, nearly 780,000 Americans toured Vietnam in 2024.
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Delegates attend the event. |
According to Dr. Satu Limaye, through their multifaceted cooperation, the two nations not only contribute to the stability of the Indo-Pacific region, but also promote a future of shared growth and prosperity.
He also stressed that by strengthening people-to-people ties between the U.S., the world’s largest economy, and Vietnam, with its large young population and a rapidly growing middle class poised to drive global growth in the coming decade, Vietnam – U.S. relations are expected to foster prosperity, security, safety, and lasting stability for decades to come.
Translated by Huyen Trang