Hanoi – President Vo Van Thuong, accompanied by his spouse and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, returned to Hanoi on the morning of November 19, concluding a visit to the United States for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Week and various bilateral activities. The trip, undertaken at the invitation of US President Joe Biden, is seen as a significant stride in Vietnam’s external relations, both bilaterally and multilaterally, enhancing the nation’s diplomatic ties for peace and stability.
According to Vietnam News Agency, During the APEC Leaders’ Week and related events, President Thuong engaged in numerous activities including discussions, working sessions, and bilateral meetings. He addressed the 30th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and the APEC CEO Summit, while also holding working sessions with representatives from the US-APEC Business Coalition, and Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) partner nations.
The President also participated in dialogues with the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) and other APEC leaders. His agenda included a working lunch, a retreat with APEC economic leaders, and interactions with leaders of Vietnamese businesses present at the APEC Leaders’ Week.
Additionally, President Thuong had separate meetings with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra. These meetings were marked by mutual expressions of respect and commitments to enhance cooperation in various sectors like politics, economy, technology, education, and people-to-people relations.
In his bilateral activities in the US, President Thuong met with California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Erin Bromaghim. He spoke at a roundtable aimed at fostering Vietnamese and US business and locality connections in high technology and met with representatives from Boeing and Apple.
During his visit, the President also interacted with Vietnamese diplomatic officials in the US and visited Stanford University’s hospital. A key highlight was his policy discussion at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), where his perspectives on the global situation, Vietnam’s foreign policy, and Vietnam-US relations were highly appreciated.
American historian Prof. Larry Berman, known for his extensive works on Vietnam, lauded President Thuong’s successful engagements at the CFR, noting his straightforward answers to questions about Vietnam’s foreign policies. Berman emphasized that President Thuong’s participation in the APEC Leaders’ Week and bilateral activities in the US not only affirmed Vietnam’s prominent global position but also underlined the importance of actualizing the commitments of the Vietnam-US comprehensive strategic partnership.