Vietnam’s international standing has been bolstered by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President Tô Lâm’s recent visit to the United States and Canada. This five-day diplomatic mission, taking place from September 20 to 25, marked Tô Lâm’s first official visits to these countries in his current role following a political transition in Vietnam.
During the trip, Tô Lâm participated in the high-level General Debate of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he outlined Vietnam’s development priorities and foreign policy direction. In his address, he called for enhanced multilateral cooperation and emphasized the need for a stronger United Nations role in tackling global issues.
In addition to his UN participation, Tô Lâm engaged with senior officials, lawmakers, business leaders, academics, and Vietnamese communities in both the US and Canada. Discussions with US officials focused on deepening bilateral relations and exploring mutual interests such as trade and investment. Meanwhile, in Canada, the two countries agreed to elevate their relationship to a Strategic Partnership, accompanied by an action plan covering various areas of collaboration.
Vietnamese officials and business leaders also held meetings with partners in both nations, resulting in agreements in sectors like trade, investment, technology, education, energy, and transport. According to Vietnamese Foreign Minister Lê Hoài Trung, the focus now should be on implementing the commitments made during the trip. He highlighted the potential for expanded cooperation in fields such as science and technology, defence and security, energy, and education, with nuclear energy cooperation being a notable emerging area.
Lê Hoài Trung emphasized that these visits have opened new avenues for deeper cooperation, reinforcing Vietnam’s position on the global stage and contributing to its international engagement strategy.