After 10 years of establishing the Comprehensive Partnership, Vietnam and the US officially upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development.

At the talks on the afternoon of September 10, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong highly appreciated the contents agreed upon between the leaders of the two countries on the Joint Statement on upgrading Vietnam-US relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development.

US President Joe Biden also said that upgrading the US-Vietnam relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is beneficial to both countries and in common international interests.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong presided over the official welcoming ceremony for US President Joe Biden at the Presidential Palace on the afternoon of September 10 (Photo: Manh Quan).

Commenting on the significance and importance of upgrading the Vietnam-US relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Trung (Fulbright University Vietnam) said that upgrading the Vietnam-US relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership shows that the relationship between the two countries has reached maturity in many aspects and there needs to be a milestone to mark the maturity of this relationship.

"The significance of upgrading relations is not only limited to extensive cooperation in economics, politics, diplomacy, security, defense, science and technology, education and culture, but also aims at a long-term strategic vision, strengthening mutual trust between the two countries.

This is extremely necessary for the US and Vietnam to be able to confidently cooperate in essential areas in the global supply chain that the US is leading," Mr. Trung shared with Dan Tri .

According to Mr. Trung, if viewed from Vietnam's perspective, upgrading the relationship with the world's number 1 economic and technological innovation power like the US is also extremely necessary for Vietnam's modernization, industrialization, and sustainable development strategy in the coming time.

"If we look at it more broadly, the importance of upgrading the Vietnam-US bilateral relationship is not only meaningful for Vietnam and the US but also for peace and stability in the Southeast Asian region. In addition, this can also be a model for other relationships that can overcome past difficulties to work together to foster stability, development and prosperity for the two peoples and the whole world," said Mr. Trung.

Regarding the reason why the US and Vietnam decided to upgrade their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership at this time, Mr. Trung emphasized that this is the time when the two countries mark 10 years of establishing a Comprehensive Partnership.

"A decade has passed and the two countries have witnessed the development of the relationship in many different aspects. The two countries have benefited from that relationship and the past time is also a relatively long enough time for both sides to understand that the opportunity will not easily return soon if the two sides do not upgrade the relationship in 2023," Mr. Trung commented.

According to Mr. Trung, this is a meaningful time for both sides. This is a "beautiful time" before the busy US election year next year 2024.

As for Vietnam, 2023 is also a pivotal year for Vietnam before the 14th Party Congress in 2026. In addition, this is also a period when the region and the world are witnessing many rapid changes, so both sides understand that it is necessary to have a proactive view of international relations.

Master Hoang Viet (Ho Chi Minh City University of Law) also said that the upgrading of Vietnam and the US relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is of great significance. This is even more meaningful when placed in the context of President Joe Biden's visit to Vietnam.

Mr. Viet reiterated that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken considered this a "historic visit", while the US press assessed President Biden's visit to Vietnam as the most significant event ever in Vietnam-US relations.

"Vietnam and the US were former enemies and have gone through a painful past, but now the two countries have become important partners. The upgrade of relations shows that the two countries have a strong and deep level of commitment.

This also shows the great trust between the two sides. Obviously, the two countries have closed the past, looked to the future, built a new relationship and developed in the future, bringing prosperity to both sides," Mr. Viet commented to Dan Tri .

According to Mr. Viet, the relationship between the US and Vietnam, two countries that were once enemies, has become as strong and extensive as it is today, clearly demonstrating Vietnam's consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, diversifying and multilateralizing foreign relations.

Commenting on the timing of upgrading relations, Mr. Viet said that this year is the 10th year that the US and Vietnam have established a Comprehensive Partnership and there are many expectations that the two countries need to make new progress, after achieving many great achievements over the past decade.

Mr. Viet believes that this is also the time to upgrade relations because Vietnam and the US have found more common ground. In the context of the world economy facing many difficulties, Vietnam and the US meet at many points and both sides benefit.

"This is a great time, both in the context of the 10th anniversary of the two countries establishing the Comprehensive Partnership and in the context of the world and regional situation. This is the right time for Vietnam and the US to upgrade their relationship to a higher level," Mr. Viet emphasized.

Strong development in all fields

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and US President Joe Biden and members of the two countries attended talks at the Party Central Committee Office on the afternoon of September 10 (Photo: Huu Khoa).

Expert Nguyen Thanh Trung said that there are many notable points in the Joint Statement on upgrading Vietnam-US relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including expanding relations in many different fields from economics, technology, clean energy... These are extremely essential aspects for the development and prosperity of Vietnam as well as the US in the coming time.

"In my opinion, as an international relations researcher, the most notable point is the declaration of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Cooperation and Sustainable Development. This three-point summary phrase is extremely important because it is the core goal for a strong, long-term and mutually trusting relationship. I believe that this phrase has laid the foundation for practical and specific cooperation between the two countries in many fields later on," Mr. Trung added.

According to Mr. Trung, the two countries will have more specific agreements and policies in the coming time to realize the joint statement between the two leaders. The working levels of the two countries will continue to work actively to bring the results of upgrading the relationship to the people of the two countries.

Policies that still restrict the circulation of goods, services, labor, travel, exchange or investment between the people of the two countries need to be considered in the near future.

In addition, Mr. Trung also said that activities to enhance understanding and deeper cooperation in the fields of politics, security, defense, or cultural education between the two countries will be promoted in the coming time.

Expert Hoang Viet commented that upgrading relations will open up new space for the US and Vietnam for the two countries to continue to develop more strongly.

According to Mr. Viet, Vietnam needs to develop infrastructure, while the US has many investors with strengths in this field, moreover, US technology is very modern, which can help Vietnam develop. In the fight against climate change, Vietnam also needs support from businesses and investors from the US.

In the green economy sector, especially within the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), Vietnam is looking forward to investors from the US in high-tech industries with low environmental impact.

Mr. Viet pointed out that, in rearranging the global supply chain, the US needs partners to develop high technology and Vietnam can be one of the US partners. Before the US Secretary of State's visit to Vietnam in April, a series of businesses came to Vietnam to seek cooperation opportunities in many fields.

Vietnam needs access to modern management technology and capital from the US. In many areas such as artificial intelligence, the US is the country with the world's leading potential. Meanwhile, Vietnam is a developing country, so it needs access and transfer from the US. Thus, both sides can support each other to develop.

"Upgrading relations opens up new space for both sides to have stronger development, even explosive development in economy, trade and investment in the coming time," Mr. Viet emphasized.