Vietnam - US Relations: New Vision, New Dynamics

Today, September 10, US President Joe Biden is expected to visit Vietnam for a state visit at the invitation of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Vietnamese goods at Eden supermarket in Falls Church, Virginia, USA - Photo: HUU TAI

Mr. Joe Biden’s visit takes place in the context of the two countries celebrating 10 years of Comprehensive Partnership. This is an opportunity for both sides to review the cooperation and development process over the past decade, and at the same time outline the direction for developing bilateral relations in the coming time, seeking potential for future cooperation.

Cooperation with Vietnam is clearly a priority for the US as it wants to minimize risks to industrial operations.

Mr. Amitendu Palit (National University of Singapore)

Vietnam's leading role

President Biden's plane is expected to arrive in Hanoi on September 10 after completing his trip to India to attend the G20 Summit in New Delhi.

With Vice President Kamala Harris in Indonesia for the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and related meetings, the Biden administration is continuing to vigorously promote cooperation priorities in the Indo- Pacific region.

The White House particularly appreciates the relationship with Vietnam and sees Vietnam as an important partner in Washington's strategy.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan shared this at a press conference on September 5 when he told White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre: "Building on the success of President Biden's diplomatic engagement this year, this visit is a notable step in strengthening our diplomatic relationship, and reflects the leading role that Vietnam is playing in our growing network of cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, as we look to the future."

According to Mr. Sullivan, the visit to Vietnam is a strong opportunity to promote a cooperative relationship that benefits the American people, as well as peace, stability and prosperity for the Indo-Pacific region.

He said that Vietnam and the US share interests in many important issues, including technology development, and the two countries will "outline our vision for facing the 21st century together with a motivated and energized partnership."

Observers now see the US as implementing a comprehensive strategy to increase its influence in the Indo-Pacific region. The Biden administration wants to strengthen Washington’s partners by providing a framework to diversify economic cooperation options.

According to Mr. Steven Okun - Senior Advisor of McLarty Associates International Strategy Consulting Company, the US's desire to promote relations with Vietnam has emphasized and enhanced the importance of Vietnam's role in the Indo-Pacific region both economically and strategically. Mr. Okun believes that Vietnam has a prominent role when the US wants to increase its influence and introduce new cooperation options in the region.

In my opinion, sectors such as manufacturing, renewable energy and digital services offer a golden opportunity for Vietnam to carve out a niche for itself, thereby asserting a stronger presence in the global supply chain thanks to advantages from labor costs and the geopolitical environment.

Professor Julien Chaisse (University of Hong Kong)

Workers assemble agricultural drones equipped with AI systems - plant recognition at Real-time Robotics Vietnam Company invested in and produced by overseas Vietnamese in the US - Photo: TU TRUNG

Vietnam appreciates cooperation with the US

Like National Security Advisor Sullivan, US Ambassador Marc Knapper recently mentioned the potential for economic cooperation between the two countries with common priorities on innovative economic development orientation, focusing on technology, when mentioning President Biden's visit.

An important foundation for the potential for US-Vietnam cooperation is efforts to resolve differences between the two sides, build trust and respect, including respect for political institutions. Mr. Biden is not the first president to visit Vietnam, but the first US president to make an official visit at the invitation of a Communist Party leader - a move that Palit said reflects the US "feeling comfortable engaging with Vietnam politically."

The friendship between the two countries will play a big role in the US's "friend-shoring" strategy, a strategy focused on building and promoting production and supply chain relationships between the US and countries that Washington considers "friends".

"Friend-shoring aims to expand our trade relations and diversify supply chains among trusted partners like Vietnam to mitigate global shocks, geopolitical risks, and the over-concentration of important industries in one place," US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said during a visit to Vietnam in July.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre on September 9, Professor Julien Chaisse (University of Hong Kong) - an expert on globalization and foreign investment - affirmed that President Biden's visit is a catalyst for strengthening Vietnam's position in the "friend-shoring" strategy, creating a situation that benefits both countries.

According to Mr. Okun - who was recently elected to continue as president of the American Chamber of Commerce in the Asia-Pacific region, while there are still some issues to be dealt with, President Biden's visit brings an opportunity for high-level political and economic dialogue between the two countries.

"These discussions can help both sides identify common interests and areas of cooperation, further enhancing Vietnam's role in efforts to build sustainable supply chains," he told Tuoi Tre.

A group of American tourists from Bach Dang wharf took a canoe on the Saigon River to Cu Chi tunnels, Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: QUANG DINH

Vietnam - US: gateways for economic cooperation

Biden’s visit will not only help explore the potential for bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and the US, experts also believe that promoting this relationship will also help the two countries increase market access and new cooperation frameworks. For example, Mr. Palit said that Vietnam is currently a very important part of the US’s efforts to build a new generation of rules in the region. This will impact trade, investment and business. These relationships will help Vietnam build deeper connections with the world’s largest economies. In turn, Vietnam’s importance will also help US businesses have more opportunities to access the Southeast Asian market, according to Mr. Okun. "Vietnam has a fast-growing economy, integrated with neighboring countries in the region, and is one of the few members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Therefore, Vietnam will develop as an important gateway for US companies to access the Southeast Asian market and beyond," Mr. Okun analyzed with Tuoi Tre .

Vietnamese goods are sold at a supermarket in Garden Grove, California, USA - Photo: DUC CUONG

Appreciate the results of cooperation

President Joe Biden’s visit is a new highlight in the decades-long reconciliation process between the Americans and the Vietnamese. It is the longest story of modern times, going through many different stages to build peace between people and between countries.

Those steps include cooperation between Vietnamese and American veterans, increased involvement of Vietnamese Americans, and joint search for missing persons from the war.

In terms of diplomacy, the two countries have normalized relations, established long-term trade status and agreed on a comprehensive partnership. The meeting between US President Joe Biden and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong this time brings together all past events, with the expectation that a new chapter will begin in Vietnam-US relations.

The bilateral relationship is now at its closest in history. When the first US charge d'affaires to Vietnam, Desaix Anderson, arrived in Hanoi in 1995, he was surprised by the warm reception he received. He and subsequent US ambassadors have affirmed that the potential for US-Vietnam relations is enormous and that "nothing is impossible".

However, it will take many years for this potential to become a reality, reflecting the many political differences that remain between our two countries.

However, I believe that over time, these differences can be understood and resolved through dialogue. For example, war legacies such as Agent Orange and unexploded ordnance have been obstacles to closer cooperation between the United States and Vietnam.

Today, increased US humanitarian assistance to help Vietnam address the human and environmental consequences of war is a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship.

Of all the diplomatic relationships in the world, none can compare to the Vietnam-US relationship when it comes to cooperation between former enemies to rebuild and overcome the consequences of war. Of course, these consequences are still there and will take much longer to resolve, although significant progress has been made.

Obviously, cooperation in economics, trade, and addressing the consequences of war, among other areas, has developed steadily over the 10 years since the establishment of the Comprehensive Partnership. Will these areas of cooperation expand?

I expect the United States to maintain and expand its commitments to Vietnam in all areas, including cooperation on climate change and technology development. Vietnam can gain more opportunities from this cooperation by simplifying the approval process for US and international funded projects. Both countries can simplify visa procedures for citizens to travel to each other...

Dr. Andrew Wells-Dang (senior expert at the US Institute of Peace) - DUY LINH recorded

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