US visit boosts relations

Following several diplomatic exchanges between Vietnam and the United States over previous months, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung is the latest top leader to embark on an official visit to the US. The series of visits between both sides have built upon the increasingly warm friendship following the 20th anniversary of normalised relations which occurred earlier this year.

Hung met with President Pro Tempore of the US Senate Patrick Leahy, Speaker of the US House of Representatives John Boehner, and US Senator John McCain, who formally invited him to the US.

The two sides agreed to further the two nations’ legislative co-operation, strengthen high-ranking visits of both legislative bodies, and solidify bilateral co-operation on all levels.

Hung also met with leaders from the state of Massachusetts who committed to supporting and expanding their co-operation with a number of Vietnam’s provinces and cities, and increasing trade and investment into Vietnam. During Hung’s visit to Harvard University, the university’s scientists and experts stated their readiness to support Vietnam in socio-economic development via the compiling of policies.

Vietnam-US relations have been flourishing, with an increase in visits and investment. During Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s official historic visit to the US during July 6-10, 2015, in addition to the signing of a series of major agreements, the two nations issued a milestone joint vision statement, stressing that they would “deepen a long-term partnership”.

Under the statement, strengthening political and diplomatic relations, increasing exchanges at high levels, and expanding bilateral consultations to continue to build trust and improve co-operation remain priorities for both the US and Vietnam. The same is true for enhancing economic, trade, and investment co-operation, and deepening ties in science and technology, education, training, health, environment, and law enforcement.

Apart from being committed to a high-quality and balanced Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, the US and Vietnam reaffirmed continued bilateral cooperation in defense and security, as outlined in the US–Vietnam Joint Vision Statement on Defense Relations.

Vietnam-US annual trade increased 90 times, from over $400 million in 1995 to $36.3 billion last year. In the first half of this year, Vietnam’s export turnover from the US reached $15.7 billion, up 18.6 per cent on year, while Vietnam spent $3.8 billion importing goods from the US, up 19.8 per cent on year.

Prior to his US visit, Hung attended the 4th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, and made a speech at the opening session. He affirmed the Vietnamese National Assembly’s active and responsible participation in implementing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. He stated that Vietnam would make great efforts to see these goals succeed in the country. The implementation of these goals would be in line with Vietnam’s poverty reduction and new rural development programmes. At the conference, Hung joined other legislative leaders from around the world in a general debate on utilising democracy to foster peace and sustainable development.

On the sideline of the conference, Hung had bilateral meetings with his counterparts from a number of countries, leaders of the United Nations General Assembly and the president of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.