President Joe Biden speaks at a press conference on the evening of September 10 (Photo: Manh Quan).

"Good evening Vietnam and good morning America," Mr. Biden said at the start of the press conference on the evening of September 10. Immediately afterwards, he sent his condolences to the people of Morocco in the earthquake that killed more than 1,000 people and injured hundreds. Affirming that Vietnam is "a key partner in the Indo-Pacific region", the US President affirmed that this trip is very important and a historic moment in the 50 years of Vietnam-US relations, from war to normalization and then upgrading relations. According to Mr. Biden, the establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the US will be a driving force for prosperity and security in particular, while contributing to US efforts to interact with the Indo-Pacific region in general. "America is a Pacific nation and we are not going anywhere," he affirmed at the press conference.

President Biden is visiting Vietnam for 2 days, September 10-11 (Photo: Manh Quan).

Before the press conference, President Joe Biden held talks with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the Party Central Committee Office. At the end of the talks, the two leaders spoke to the press, announcing the upgrade of Vietnam-US relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Cooperation, and Sustainable Development. The upgrade took place while President Biden was on a State visit to Vietnam on September 10-11, at the invitation of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. This is the first time a US President has visited Vietnam at the invitation of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

US President Joe Biden (Photo: Manh Quan).

On September 11, President Biden will continue to meet with Vietnamese leaders. Mr. Biden will also attend the Vietnam-US Summit on Innovation and Investment.