This is the first time in history a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam has paid an official visit to the US. The visit takes place at a time when the two countries are celebrating the 20^th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

Ups and downs in the past

Even before bilateral ties were normalized in 1995, Vietnam and the US had a number of connections though they are half a world apart. Vietnam-US relations went through ups and downs including a war which left scars on both nations. 40 years after the war and 20 years after renewed diplomatic ties, Vietnam-US relations have advanced on several fronts thanks to mutual respect and mutual benefit. In 2000, they signed a bilateral trade agreement (BTA). During President Truong Tan Sang’s visit to the US in July, 2013, they established a comprehensive partnership to boost broad cooperation. Trade between Vietnam and the US has grown rapidly, especially since their bilateral trade agreement took effect in 2001. Two-way trade increased from 451 million USD in 1995 to 36 billion USD in 2014, with Vietnam’s exports valued at 30 billion USD. Since 2015, the US has been Vietnam’s largest export market. US investment in Vietnam totals nearly 11 billion USD, 7^th most among countries and territories investing in Vietnam. Vietnam is a potential market awaiting more investment from the US.

Vietnam is the Southeast Asian country with the most students studying in the US- 17,000. A project to set up a Fullbright University in Vietnam is underway. The US continues to provide scholarships to Vietnamese post-graduates through the Fullbright scholarship program and the Vietnam Education Fund. Vietnam is a high-priority country in the US Program on Urgent Assistance in HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control. The two countries are collaborating on a project to mitigate climate change in forest and lowland areas in the 2013-2017 period with an initial commitment of 17 million USD. Vietnam continues to support the US army’s efforts to locate American soldiers missing in action. The US has been demonstrating greater responsibility for helping Vietnam deal with the consequences of Agent Orange, and unexploded bombs and mines left over from the war.

The two countries have increased dialogues and cooperative programs on security and national defense, maintained visits by US naval ships to Vietnamese ports, and strengthened cooperation in search and rescue. In 2014, the US partially lifted its embargo on lethal arms for Vietnam. In June 2015, their defense ministries signed a Declaration on Common Vision on Bilateral Defense Ties.

Vietnam and the US are working closely at multi-lateral forums including APEC, the ASEAN Regional Forum, the ASEAN Defense Ministerial Meeting Plus, and the East Asia Summit and within the framework of the US-ASEAN Strategic Partnership.

Historic visit

Implementing an open foreign policy, the Communist Party of Vietnam has, over the past few years, tallied to both major parties in the US - the Democrats and Republicans - and maintained its relationship with the Communist Party of the US. Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to the US is of great historical significance as it takes place at an important moment in bilateral ties. Leaders of the two countries are reviewing their 20-year relationship and mapping out orientations for the next 20 years aiming to intensify the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Partnership. The visit will be an opportunity for both sides to discuss frankly and openly their differences as well as regional and global issues of mutual concern.

Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to the US is in line with Vietnam’s foreign policy of peace, independence, self-reliance, friendship, cooperation, multi-lateralization, diversification, respecting relations with big countries, deepening partnerships and improving Vietnam’s international prestige. The visit demonstrates the Communist Party of Vietnam’s leading role in Vietnam’s international integration.