Hanoi (VNA) – The official upgrade of Vietnam-US relations to acomprehensive strategic partnership during US President Joseph Biden’srecent State visit to Vietnam is expected to open up a new stage in the bilateral friendship and cooperation.

The visit from September 10-11 marked a decade of the countries’ implementationof their comprehensive partnership (2013-2023) and the continuity of visits toVietnam by heads of the White House during the nearly 30 years of diplomatic relations.

During the trip, Biden joined Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in an official welcomingceremony, talks, and a meeting with the press. He met with President Vo VanThuong and attended a banquet hosted by Thuong. He had a meeting with PrimeMinister Pham Minh Chinh, with both leaders attending a high-level conferencebetween the US and Vietnam on investment and innovation. The US President alsomet with Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue.

At these meetings, both sides emphasised the specialsignificance of the visit as an opportunity for the leaders of the countries toexchange views on bilateral relations and international issues for the benefitof their peoples and for contributions to peace, cooperation, and sustainabledevelopment in the region and the world. The sides agreed that the Vietnam-USrelations have made significant, deep, substantive, and effective developmentssince the normalisation and the establishment of the comprehensive partnership.

On the occasion, a Joint Leaders’ Statement on elevating theties to a comprehensive strategic partnership was issued, opening up a newchapter in the relationship. Accordingly, the sides will work together torealise the aspirations of their peoples for a bright and dynamic future,contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and sustainabledevelopment in the region and the world.

At a meeting with the press alongside Trong to announce theresults of their talks on the evening of September 10, Biden emphasised thateverything achieved in recent years was not accidental or inevitable butrequired strong efforts of the two countries’ leaders. He expressed hisremembrance of McCain and noted that those who contributed to nurturing theVietnam-US relationship saw how much the sides “had to gain by working togetherto overcome a bitter past.”

The Vietnamese Party chief stressed that Vietnam promotesrelations with the US and other international partners in the spirit outlinedby President Ho Chi Minh after Vietnam regained independence, that is Vietnam is a friend of all countries.

The 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnamalso set the policy on strengthening and deepening bilateral cooperativerelations in the framework of the consistent foreign policy of independence,self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, diversificationand multilateralisation of external relations; Vietnam is a friend, atrustworthy partner as well as an active and responsible member of theinternational community, the Party leader affirmed./.