Vietnam’s international standing received a significant boost following General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President Tô Lâm’s recent visit to the United States and Canada. According to Vietnamese Foreign Minister Lê Hoài Trung, the five-day trip, conducted from September 20 to 25, opened avenues for enhanced cooperation and underscored Vietnam’s commitment to addressing global and regional challenges.
During his visit, Tô Lâm attended the General Debate of the 81st United Nations General Assembly session, marking his debut at the UN in his current leadership role. This visit, the first since Vietnam’s latest political transition, allowed Tô Lâm to outline Vietnam’s development priorities and foreign policy direction. His address at the UN emphasized the need for stronger multilateral cooperation and an expanded role for the UN in tackling international issues.
In addition to his UN appearance, Tô Lâm engaged in discussions with senior officials, lawmakers, business leaders, academics, and Vietnamese communities in both the US and Canada. With US counterparts, talks focused on bilateral relations and mutual interests, particularly in trade and investment.
While in Canada, Vietnam and Canada agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership, which will be bolstered by a comprehensive action plan covering several areas of cooperation. This development highlights the growing ties between the two nations and their shared commitment to a robust partnership.
The visit also resulted in Vietnamese officials and businesses reaching agreements with partners in the US and Canada. These agreements span sectors such as trade, investment, technology, education, energy, and transport, reflecting Vietnam’s proactive approach to international collaboration.
Minister Lê Hoài Trung emphasized the importance of implementing the commitments made during the trip, advocating for increased cooperation in science and technology, trade, investment, defense, security, energy, and education. He pointed out nuclear energy cooperation as an emerging area with significant potential for expanded collaboration, indicating Vietnam’s forward-looking stance on global partnerships.