Washington D.C (VNA) – Vietnam always considers the US as a key strategic partner and hopes to strengthen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for more practical and effective results, National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh has affirmed.
Thanh made the confirmation at her meetings with several US senators in Washington DC on March 13 during her working visit to the US to attend the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).
During her meetings with Senator Marsha Blackburn and Senator Peter Welch, Thanh underlined Vietnam's consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of external relations, and being a friend, trustworthy partner, and active and responsible member of the international community.
She expressed her delight at the positive progress in bilateral relations, highlighting 2025 as a significant milestone marking 30 years since the normalisation of their ties. She also emphasised Vietnam's deep appreciation for the active support and significant contributions by generations of US senators to the overall relationship between the two countries and their parliaments.
The legislator expressed her desire for increased delegation exchanges between the two countries, particularly in 2025, when they are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. She asked the two parliaments to collaborate in expanding the network of lawmakers supporting bilateral ties, and to intensify cooperation in diverse areas such as trade, education, gender equality, and women's empowerment.
Thanh also highlighted the importance of cooperation in settling post-war consequences in the Vietnam – US relations, calling on the US Congress to continue advocating projects in this sphere in Vietnam.
The US senators affirmed that their country places great importance on its relationship with Vietnam, and the elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023 underscores Vietnam’s position as a leading partner for the US in the region.
Marsha Blackburn showed her delight in seeing Vietnam increasingly becoming a vital link in regional and global supply chains. She affirmed her commitment to helping promote the stable development of economic and trade relations between the two countries, thus benefiting their peoples and businesses.
Meanwhile, Peter Welch thanked the Vietnamese Government and people for their active cooperation with the US in the search for the remains of US soldiers missing in action. As a one who witnessed the profound impacts of the war in Vietnam, he emphasised his commitment to contributing to the post-war recovery efforts in Vietnam. He pledged to continue the legacy of Senator Patrick Leahy in this field, and promote the projects on dioxin remediation, mine clearance, and support for people with disabilities in the Southeast Asian country.
The same day, the NA Vice Chairwoman held a working session with leaders of the US-Asia Institute, during which she stressed that almost 80 years since its establishment and after nearly 40 years of renewal, Vietnam is now ready to enter a new historical starting point – the new era of the nation’s rise.
She highlighted Vietnam's wish to continue receiving strong international support, especially in strategic and breakthrough fields like high technology, and suggested the institute prioritise enhancing cooperation with Vietnam in these areas.
Institute Chairman Glenn Lau-kee affirmed that promoting cooperation with Vietnam is a high priority of the institute and expressed his hope to collaborate with the country to organise meaningful activities in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic relations.
On this ocassion, Thanh also attended a gathering organised by the Congressional Office for International Leadership (COIL) to mark this anniversary.
In her speech, COIL Executive Director Jane Sargus affirmed that the US Congress in general and COIL in particular attach special importance to the relations with Vietnam and look forward to continued close cooperation with Vietnamese partners to further strengthen the ties between the two countries and their parliaments through delegation exchanges and experience sharing.
On March 12, Thanh visited the state of Maryland, where she met with Governor Wes Moore and key officials from the state government.
She said that Maryland was the first US locality her delegation visited following their activities at the UN, reflecting Vietnam's appreciation for and recognition of the positive results in the cooperation between Maryland and Vietnamese localities, especially Ninh Thuan province.
Wes Moore, in turn, affirmed that Maryland considers Vietnam a top partner and prioritises strengthening bilateral relations, reflected through the state's signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation with Ninh Thuan 15 years ago.
Thanh suggested that in the coming period, Governor Moore and the Maryland state government continue to promote cooperation in education and training with Vietnam through partnership programmes, particularly at the higher education level. She agreed with the Governor's assessment of the great potential for agricultural cooperation between Vietnam and Maryland, and expressed her hope that the state will continue to strengthen cooperation in this field by sharing experiences, especially in applying high technology to agriculture to cope with climate change.
On the afternoon of March 12, Thanh had a meeting with Senator Patricia Murray, Vice Chair of the US Senate’s Committee on Appropriations and a member of its Committees on Health, Education, Labour, and Pensions; the Budget; and Veterans’ Affairs./.
