Politburo member, FM Le Hoai Trung welcomes U.S. lawmakers to deepen Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
WVR - On May 26, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters, Politburo Member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung received a delegation of U.S. Congress members led by Representative Michael Baumgartner, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The delegation also included Representative Gregory Meeks, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, along with Congressional aides and officials from the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam.
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| Politburo Member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung receives the U.S. Congressional delegation led by Representative Michael Baumgartner. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
During the meeting, Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung highly appreciated the role of the U.S. Congress in promoting bilateral relations, especially through delegation exchanges, legislative contacts, dialogues between specialized committees, and support for cooperative programs between the two legislative bodies. The Minister emphasized that the delegation's visit contributes to enhancing understanding, strengthening trust, and creating additional momentum for the stable, substantive, and long-term development of Vietnam-U.S. relations.
Minister Le Hoai Trung shared with the delegation the major orientations in Vietnam's foreign policy following the 14th National Party Congress, affirming that Vietnam will continue pursuing a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of external relations, and being a friend, a trustworthy partner and a responsible member of the international community.
The Minister stressed that Vietnam's foreign policy is implemented comprehensively across the pillars of Party diplomacy, state diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy, with parliamentary diplomacy being an important cooperation channel that strengthens the political and social foundation for relations with partners, including the United States.
Affirming that Vietnam considers the United States a partner of leading importance, Minister Le Hoai Trung proposed that both sides continue to effectively implement shared understandings and high-level agreements, deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for greater stability and substance. The Minister suggested that the United States continue to promote economic and trade cooperation in a balanced, fair, and harmonious manner; expand cooperation in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, energy, education and training, people-to-people exchanges, and war legacy remediation.
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| During the meeting, Minister Le Hoai Trung highly appreciated the role of the U.S. Congress in promoting Vietnam-U.S. relations through parliamentary exchange and cooperation activities. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
Minister Le Hoai Trung also proposed that both sides maintain regular exchange channels to appropriately address remaining differences, in the spirit of respecting each other's political institutions, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and in accordance with the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The Minister emphasized that the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs is ready to closely coordinate with relevant U.S. agencies, including the U.S. Congress, to promote mutually beneficial cooperation areas, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region.
The U.S. Congress members thanked Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung for taking the time to meet with the delegation; expressed their delight in visiting Vietnam amid the positive development of bilateral relations following the upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The U.S. Congress members affirmed the importance of relations with Vietnam, appreciated Vietnam's role in the region, and wish to continue promoting exchanges between the two countries' legislatures, specialized committees, and advisory and support agencies of the Congress.
Discussing specific cooperation areas, the U.S. Congress members noted that economic and trade relations remain a key driver of bilateral relations; acknowledged efforts by both sides in exchanges and negotiations to address trade issues, including tariff matters, in a balanced manner that aligns with the interests of both nations. Regarding U.S. Section 301 investigations related to industrial overcapacity and forced labour, Minister Le Hoai Trung affirmed that Vietnam does not have policies to create industrial overcapacity and does not use forced labour; he also suggested that the U.S. side consider the economic and trade cooperation realities between the two countries objectively and fairly.
The Vietnamese side also emphasized recent efforts to improve the legal framework and enhance enforcement in the field of intellectual property, strictly handling violations, thereby contributing to building a transparent and healthy investment and business environment in line with Vietnam's international commitments.
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| Both sides discuss measures to promote economic and trade cooperation, science and technology, education and training, and people-to-people exchanges. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
Regarding local cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, both sides agreed that these are important areas for the overall bilateral relationship and mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries. Minister Le Hoai Trung proposed that U.S. Congress members continue to pay attention to and promote connections between localities of the two countries in areas such as economy, education and training, science and technology, culture, and tourism. The U.S. Congress members affirmed their support for enhancing people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between U.S. states and localities with Vietnamese localities, thereby deepening the Vietnam-U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Both sides also exchanged views on numerous international and regional issues of mutual concern, including the situation in the Asia-Pacific, regional hotspots, energy security, maritime and aviation security. Regarding the East Sea issue, both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight; ensuring the smooth operation of international maritime routes; and resolving disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS 1982. The U.S. Congress members affirmed their support for resolving disputes by peaceful means, based on international law, and continuing to coordinate with Vietnam at regional and international forums.
