WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is heading to Vietnam subsequent month to satisfy with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and different Vietnamese leaders, the White House introduced on Monday.
The president will journey to Hanoi on Sept. 10, tacking on the one-day go to to the Vietnamese capital after attending the annual Group of 20 leaders’ summit in India.
“The leaders will explore opportunities to promote the growth of a technology-focused and innovation-driven Vietnamese economy, expand our people-to-people ties through education exchanges and workforce development programs, combat climate change, and increase peace, prosperity, and stability in the region,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated in an announcement.
The White House additionally introduced on Monday that Biden will cease in Alaska on his manner house from Vietnam to mark the the twenty second anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, assaults on the United States. He will participate in a memorial ceremony at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage with members of the navy, first responders and their households, Jean-Pierre stated.
The announcement about Vietnam comes after weeks of Biden hinting at a potential go to. He stated at a July 29 marketing campaign reception in Freeport, Maine, that Vietnam’s chief needed to satisfy him. He then instructed donors at a New Mexico reception earlier this month that he would “be going to Vietnam shortly because Vietnam wants to change our relationship and become a partner.”
“I’ve gotten a call from the head of Vietnam, desperately wants to meet me when I go to the G20,” Biden stated on the Freeport reception. “He wants to elevate us to a major partner, along with Russia and China. What do you think that’s about? No, I’m not joking.”
Vietnam is an authoritarian state dominated by a single celebration, the Communist Party of Vietnam. Human rights teams have raised issues prior to now concerning the Vietnamese curbing freedom of expression, affiliation, and peaceable meeting, and the arrests of dozens of critics of the federal government.
Asked about Vietnam’s rights document, Jean-Pierre instructed reporters that Biden “never shies away” from mentioning human rights with any chief.
Biden has put a premium on bettering and increasing relationships in southeast Asia all through his time in workplace amid rising U.S. concern about China’s rising navy and financial affect within the area.
At the identical time, Biden and his aides have repeatedly stated they search to enhance communication between the 2 governments to work on points on which the Democratic administration says they’ve widespread curiosity – comparable to international efforts to fight local weather change – and keep away from pointless battle and misunderstanding.
The United States for years has sought to strengthen relations with Vietnam, which has cautiously approached entreaties by Washington. Both China and Russia have lengthy served as key buying and selling companions for Vietnam.
China’s border is lower than 60 miles (96 kilometers) from Hanoi and Vietnam, like lots of China’s neighbors, has had maritime and territorial disputes with Beijing within the South China Sea. The two sides fought a quick conflict in 1979. But China is Vietnam’s greatest buying and selling accomplice.
Earlier this yr, Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Vietnam weeks after the fiftieth anniversary of the U.S. troop withdrawal that marked the tip of America’s direct navy involvement in Vietnam. He pledged to spice up relations to new ranges. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in July additionally travelled to Hanoi.
Diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Vietnam had been solely restored in 1995. Since then, bilateral commerce has grown, reaching a excessive of $138 billion in items commerce final yr.
Vietnam has develop into a serious export manufacturing hub for international producers like South Korea’s LG and Samsung Electronics, suppliers to Apple, Inc. and auto makers like Honda and Toyota. Vietnam’s star has risen as producers look to shift manufacturing from China, due to geopolitical tensions and a push in lots of industries to diversify provide chains that had been strained by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Vietnam go to was introduced after Biden earlier this month hosted the leaders of Japan and South Korea for a historic summit on the U.S. presidential retreat of Camp David to cement a brand new financial and safety settlement.
Biden has labored to carry South Korea and Japan – historic rivals – nearer collectively amid their shared issues about Chinese assertiveness within the Pacific and North Korea’s nuclear program.
Content Source: www.washingtontimes.com