Vietnamese General Secretary and President Tô Lâm’s recent visit to the United States and Canada has bolstered Vietnam’s international standing and paved the way for enhanced cooperation with both nations. During his five-day trip from September 20 to 25, Tô Lâm attended the 81st United Nations General Assembly session, marking his inaugural appearance at the UN in his current role. This visit also represented his first official trips to the US and Canada since Vietnam’s latest political transition.
In his address at the UN, Tô Lâm emphasized Vietnam’s commitment to multilateral cooperation and called for a stronger United Nations role in tackling global issues. His visit served as a platform to outline Vietnam’s development priorities and foreign policy directions, signaling a proactive engagement in both global and regional matters.
Throughout his time in North America, Tô Lâm engaged with senior officials, lawmakers, business leaders, academics, and Vietnamese communities. Discussions with US counterparts focused on bilateral relations, particularly in areas of mutual interest such as trade and investment. In Canada, the two countries agreed to elevate their relationship to a Strategic Partnership, backed by an action plan covering various areas of cooperation.
Vietnamese officials and business representatives also held separate meetings in both countries, resulting in agreements spanning multiple sectors including trade, investment, technology, education, energy, and transport. These engagements underscore Vietnam’s broader strategy to strengthen international partnerships and foster economic growth.
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Lê Hoài Trung highlighted the importance of implementing the commitments achieved during the visit. He emphasized the potential for expanded cooperation in science and technology, trade, investment, defense and security, energy, and education. He also noted nuclear energy cooperation as an emerging area with significant prospects for collaboration.