Hanoi (VNA) - General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam’s trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the inaugural meeting of the Gaza Board of Peace from February 18 – 20 (US time) at the invitation of US President Donald Trump, who is also the Board's Founding Chairman, marked important progress on multilateral and bilateral fronts, affirming Vietnam’s role, responsibility, and international position, while injecting fresh momentum into Vietnam–US relations in a new phase of development.
The Vietnamese Party chief’s participation in the inaugural meeting of the Gaza Board of Peace alongside heads of state and leaders from more than 50 countries marked Vietnam’s first major high-level multilateral diplomatic engagement since the 14th National Party Congress. The trip represented an important diplomatic step, not only enhancing the country’s international standing but also clearly demonstrating its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, multilateralism and diversification of relations, and proactive engagement in addressing global issues, in line with the spirit of the 14th National Party Congress.
As a founding member of the Gaza Board of Peace, Vietnam has consistently reaffirmed its consistent stance that all disputes and conflicts must be resolved by peaceful measures, on the basis of international law and the UN Charter, with respect for the fundamental rights and legitimate interests of all parties concerned.
At the meeting, General Secretary Lam underlined Vietnam’s desire to work closely with other members to end the conflict, protect civilians, ensure humanitarian access, rebuild infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, and promote a credible political process toward lasting and sustainable peace in the Middle East.
The Party leader’s working trip demonstrated Vietnam’s strong commitment to supporting international peace efforts in general, as well as its goodwill and determination to contribute to promoting peace in the Middle East and safeguarding the fundamental national rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to establish a Palestinian state.
Vietnam’s proactive approach not only reflects its international responsibility but also helps reinforce its image as a nation making positive contributions to global peace, stability and development. US President Donald Trump highly appreciated Party General Secretary To Lam’s personal attendance at the inaugural meeting of the Gaza Board of Peace, viewing it as clear evidence of Vietnam’s strong commitment to peace, stability and global cooperation, as well as the country’s increasingly prominent role and position – an "admirable" nation in the international community.
The Washington Times highlighted the significance of Party General Secretary Lam’s attendance at the meeting, noting that in a world increasingly shaped by conflict, fragmentation and geopolitical rivalry, the participation of the Vietnamese leader in the session carries significance beyond diplomatic routine, conveying many strategic messages.
The newspaper observed that the most profound aspect of the visit lay in the fact that Vietnam, a country that endured decades of war, has now emerged as a vivid example of reconstruction and reconciliation, helping spread a powerful message of reconciliation and a compelling narrative of peacebuilding, post-war recovery and development.
The Moderndiplomacy website stressed that Vietnam’s participation in the Gaza Board of Peace reflects a clearer commitment by Hanoi to supporting efforts related to issues such as peace in the Middle East, while strengthening the country’s position as a middle power with constructive role. This move will reinforce Vietnam’s image as an independent and self-reliant actor in the eyes of all major powers.
Sharing a similar view, Emeritus Professor Carl Thayer from the University of New South Wales of Australia, observed that Vietnam is demonstrating an increasing role in the international arena. The Vietnamese Party chief’s participation in the event, he said, provided an opportunity for Vietnam to enhance its credibility, from a country once a victim of war to one now ready to support reconstruction, while actively participating in shaping multilateral institutions.
On bilateral relations, the Party chief’s trip delivered tangible outcomes, consolidating the economic–trade pillar and strengthening political trust between the two countries.
The highlight of the visit was the meeting between Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam and US President Donald Trump at the White House. In an open and cordial atmosphere, the US President expressed his affection for the Vietnamese people and reaffirmed the US’s commitment to supporting a “strong, independent, self-reliant, and prosperous” Vietnam. He reaffirmed that the US considers Vietnam an important partner in the region, stating that he will instruct relevant agencies to soon remove Vietnam from the strategic export control list (D1–D3). This was seen as a significant breakthrough, helping remove a major bottleneck for the flow of technology and trade.
During meetings with US officials, the US side spoke highly of Vietnam’s investment climate, viewing Vietnam as a strategic destination in global supply chains. Negotiations on a reciprocal, fair and balanced trade agreement between the two sides have also entered a decisive phase, with notable progress recorded. On this occasion, a series of cooperation agreements between businesses of the two countries, with a combined value of up to 37.2 billion USD, were signed and exchanged, covering strategic fields such as digital transformation, telecommunications, aviation and healthcare. The agreements are expected to boost air connectivity, tourism and investment, while contributing to a more balanced bilateral trade relationship.
Besides economic cooperation, diplomatic efforts were also intensified. General Secretary Lam held separate phone talks with several US senators, discussing areas of cooperation, particularly efforts to address war legacies — an area regarded as a foundation for sustaining mutual trust between Vietnam and the US.
It is clear that General Secretary Lam’s working trip not only demonstrated support for peace efforts in the Middle East in particular and in the global in general, but also helped further deepen the Vietnam – US relations, in line with the spirit of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework between the two countries.
With concrete and substantive outcomes, the visit continued to consolidate a new era in Vietnam’s diplomacy, marked by proactiveness and responsibility in multilateral engagement, and by practicality and effectiveness in bilateral relations. It stands as vivid evidence of the foreign policy of the CPV, aimed at building a sustainably developed Vietnam with deep international integration, contributing to peace and prosperity in the region and the world./.
