​Vietnam - US relations in the fields of politics - diplomacy; security - defense, economy – trade - investment, health care, education... continue to have positive developments.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the US - Vietnam Business Summit in March 2022. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)

On the occasion of the 27th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States (July 12, 1995 - July 12, 2022), especially after two years when the whole world was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the two parties have restarted contacts, exchanges of delegations, efforts to promote bilateral cooperation activities.

In terms of politics - diplomacy, Vietnam - US relations, over the past time, has continued to develop positively.

Immediately after the pandemic has been brought under control, the two parties have had contacts and exchanges of delegations at all levels, including high - level ones, notably the bilateral activities with the United States of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (in September 2021) and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to the United States and the United Nations on the occasion of the ASEAN - US Special Summit (in May 2022), as well as the meetings of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh with US President Joe Biden and Special Presidential Envoy John Kerry on the sidelines of the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP 26) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (in October 2021).

Vietnam also successfully received many US delegations, including the delegation of US Vice President Kamala Harris (in August 2021), US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (in July 2021), US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry (in February 2022), U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman (in June 2022)... The two parties flexibly maintain online dialogue mechanisms and do correspondence by text and telephone calls.

During the exchanges, the US party has reaffirmed its commitment to support a "strong, independent and prosperous" Vietnam, continued to appreciate the position ofVietnam and attached importance to the relationship with Vietnam, suggested that two parties should strengthen cooperation ties, especially in the  fields of economy - trade, security - defence, and health.

Regarding economy – trade - investment cooperation, bilateral trade continues to grow strongly with the total two-way trade turnover of more than 52 billion USD as of May. The United States continues to be Vietnam's largest export market, and Vietnam becomes the 9th largest trading partner of the United States.

The two parties are boosting two-way trade in a more balanced manner to ensure sustainable development; at the same time, continue to maintain dialogue to strengthen cooperation and resolve backlogs of issues in trade relations.

US President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. receiving Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in May 2022. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)

During the visit to the US led by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (in May, 2022), businesses of the two countries exchanged many cooperation agreements and commercial contracts with a total value of more than 30 billion USD.

In the first six months of this year, US direct investment in Vietnam has reached 231 million USD with 36 new projects,  among the top 10 major investors in Vietnam, not including the figures of US investment into the third party transaction.

Large US enterprises continue to pay attention and invest in the Vietnamese market. The US party expresses its willingness to promote cooperation in prior areas of Vietnam such as infrastructure development, supply chain and digital economy. On March 29, Vinfast Group signed a contract to build an electric vehicle and battery plant worth of 4 billion USD in North Carolina.

Security - defense cooperation has been actively maintained with diverse cooperation contents, notably the exchange of delegations, high-level contacts, cooperation in overcoming war consequences and improving maritime capacity.

There are some prominent visits to Vietnam, including those of US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (in July, 2021) and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance Alexandra Bell (in June, 2022)....

During the exchanges, the two parties highly appreciate bilateral relations in general and security - defense cooperation in particular; emphasizes the importance of cooperation on many important issues. The two parties are actively promoting annual dialogue mechanisms and coordinating the implementation of the Pacific Partnership 22 in Phu Yen (in June, 2022).

The handover of the remains of US soldiers missing during the war in Vietnam on July 9, 2021. (Photo: VNA/broadcast)

The issue of overcoming the consequences of war continues to be a priority. The search for remains of US soldiers missing during the Vietnam War (MIA), the search for Vietnamese martyrs, the affairs of handling dioxins issues, and supporting people with disabilities continue to be promoted. Vietnam has actively coordinated with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to implement a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) on cooperation to improve the capacity of examining remains during the war.

During a visit to Vietnam, First Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman announced that the US would add an additional budget of 19 million USD in 2022 to support Vietnam for bomb, mine clearance.

Education cooperation has made many positive strides. Recently, the two parties has promoted education - training cooperation and technology transfer.

The United States International Development Finance (DFC) announces the US Government financed the budget of 37 million USD for Fulbright University Vietnam (FUV) to build a campus in District 9, Ho Chi Minh City; continues to coordinate in preparing for US volunteers to come to Vietnam to teach English. Currently, Vietnam has 6 US - invested educational institutions in Hanoi City, Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, and Binh Duong provinces.

Medical cooperation and response to the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be a bright spot, especially in supporting each other in medical equipment, access to vaccines, sharing experience in pademic prevention and control and citizen protection. Vietnam actively lobbied the US party to support Vietnam in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Until now, the United States has supported Vietnam with more than 50 million doses of vaccines, including nearly 40 million doses through the COVAX mechanism. The US party transferred to Vietnam 111 deep freezers to preserve Pfizer's vaccines; proposed to provide aid to the US-made CUE rapid test kit and coordinate the transfer of the latest mRNA vaccine technology and therapeutic drugs to Vietnamese partners.

USAID sponsored the installation of a liquid oxygen system at Bach Mai hospital during the visit of US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman. The US party also opened a regional CDC office in Hanoi on the occasion of Vice President Kamala Harris's visit.

Regarding regional and international cooperation, the two countries continue to closely coordinate in international and regional issues of mutual concern and prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic; especially within the framework of the United Nations Security Council and within ASEAN mechanisms.

The above outstanding cooperation achievements have been showing fruitful prospects in the Vietnam - US relations.