Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) meets with US President Joe Biden (Photo: VNA) During the meeting, the two countries' leaders discussedbilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutualconcern.
PM Chinh congratulated President Biden on theachievements in the first 14 months of his administration.
President Biden informed PM Chinh that the COVID-19pandemic was completely under control in the US, and the unemployment ratehas dropped to a record-low of over 3.6 percent. The US government hashelped create more than 9.8 million jobs and average wages have increased by5.5 percent.
The Vietnamese Government leader stressed that Vietnam-USrelations are "special" as the two countries have overcome the painsand devastations of the war, and are actively cooperating to make theComprehensive Partnership even more substantial and effective across all areas.
Vietnam wants the US to continue to support andcooperate with Vietnam in areas where the US has strengths and Vietnam haspotential and needs, such as disease prevention and control, digitaltransformation, diversification of supply chains, climate changeresponse, and human resources training.
President Biden said that he personally has a lot ofaffection for the country and the people of Vietnam. When he was still aSenator, he and his friend and colleague, the late John McCain, lobbied USpoliticians to promote relations with Vietnam.
President Biden said that the US, as a leadingdeveloped country, is eager to cooperate and assist developing and lessdeveloped countries in various areas, including economic and tradedevelopment, disease prevention and control, and climate change response.
In particular, in disease prevention and control, PresidentBiden said that his administration has galvanised the US Congress toallocate 21 billion USD to increase support for countries around the worldwith COVID-19 vaccines and drugs, medical equipment, as well as strengthencooperation with countries to effectively respond to future pandemics, not onlyfor the sake of the US but also for the benefit of partner countries, theinternational community, and the world at large. President Biden affirmedthat the US will make every effort to amplify support for Vietnam andother countries in the region in this field.
PM Chinh agreed that issues like climatechange, pandemics, and other non-traditional security challenges are global issueswhich necessitate countries to have a global approach,uphold multilateralism and solidarity to jointly address these problems.
The Vietnamese PM wished theUS would strengthen cooperation with and support Vietnam in thedevelopment of a green, circular economy, as well as diversifyingsupply chains and sustainable energy transition.
Discussing regional and international issues of mutualconcern, President Biden and PM Chinh agreed on the need torespect independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and politicalinstitutions of countries; refrain from the use offorce, and peacefully settle disputes and conflicts on the basis ofinternational law and United Nations' Charter; ensure freedom ofnavigation and overflight in accordance with the United Nations Convention onthe Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS 1982).
On this occasion, PM Chinh respectfully conveyed theinvitations of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Nguyen Xuan Phuc to President Biden to soon visit Vietnam. President Biden expressed gratitude and said he would arrange to visit Vietnam at a time thatis suitable for both sides./.
VNA
