Dear readers!

2025 marks a special milestone in Vietnam-US relations: the 30th anniversary of normalization of relations.

Relations between Vietnam and the United States have witnessed strong and continuous development under President Donald Trump in his first term, creating many great strides in bilateral cooperation. Mr. Trump has visited Vietnam twice - an unprecedented event for a sitting US President.

In 2024, Mr. Trump returns to power for a second term as President at a time when the Vietnam-US relationship has become stronger than in his first term, especially after the two countries upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, opening a new phase of deeper, more substantive and effective cooperation for peace, cooperation and development.

Most recently, in a phone call between General Secretary To Lam and US President Donald Trump on November 11, 2024, both sides expressed their desire to strengthen the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.

How will Vietnam-US relations continue to develop strongly and effectively under President Trump's second term? VietNamNet Newspaper organized an online discussion with the theme "Vietnam-US relations under President Trump".

Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh and former US Ambassador to Vietnam - Mr. Daniel Kritenbrink. Photo: Le Anh Dung

We would like to introduce the guests attending the talk show:

Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh , who has more than 40 years of diplomatic experience, was appointed by President Truong Tan Sang as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to the United States in 2014.

He served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, in charge of Vietnam's relations with South Asia, Southeast Asia and the South Pacific, and as Head of Vietnam's ASEAN SOM.

Former US Ambassador to Vietnam, Mr. Daniel Kritenbrink: He has 30 years of experience in the US government, especially at the State Department. He is a career diplomat with many years of working in Asia, especially in Japan, China and Vietnam, who played an important role in promoting the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), of which Vietnam is a member.

New priorities of Vietnam and the US

Dear Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh, as a senior expert with sharp and objective comments and analysis on Vietnam - US relations, could you share your perspective on the relationship between the two countries under the current Trump administration?

I am very pleased to meet again today with former Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink - a friend who this year marks 10 years since we met and worked together for the Vietnam - US relationship with many different milestones.

Returning to the Vietnam-US story, the general picture is of the two countries' connection, intertwined interests and shared relationships from politics, to economics, trade, to peace, stability and regional cooperation. The Vietnam-US relationship has gone through different periods over the past 30 years, being upgraded to Comprehensive Partnership in 2013 and then Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023. This demonstrates the vitality and development of the relationship between the two countries.

President Donald Trump has been in office for 2 months. He has made adjustments in relations with other countries and the world. Personally, I think that Vietnam and the US will continue to complement and benefit from promoting increasingly developed relations.

Second, certainly, like Donald Trump’s first term, the new US administration has set new priorities and Vietnam is also entering a new era with new priorities. Both sides must share and exchange with each other to find the most mutually beneficial outcomes.

Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh. Photo: Le Anh Dung

Third, the Trump administration and the United States in general must attach importance to relations with the Asia-Pacific region, a dynamically developing region in which the United States has interests. Therefore, the United States will certainly continue to have multifaceted cooperation, especially in economics, trade, and investment, with the region, in which Vietnam is a very important partner of the United States.

Of course, the policy adjustments of Mr. Trump that we have witnessed in the past 2 months have the story of restoring fairness and equality as well as benefits for the United States. When there are differences, we must dialogue, understand each other and find common denominators.

Vietnam needs to face challenges skillfully

Dear former Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink, how do you assess the impact of Donald Trump's policies on Vietnam?

I am very honored and delighted to be back here and to attend the VietNamNet discussion today. In particular, I am very honored to be accompanied by Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh - a long-time friend and at the same time a person who has made many great contributions to the development of the Vietnam - US relationship over the years.

Like Ambassador Vinh, I am very optimistic about the bilateral relationship between the two countries. I believe that the momentum for promoting bilateral relations has been built up over many decades and is growing stronger. The level of trust between the two countries is at an all-time high. The common interests between the two sides are greater than ever, and the relationship not only between the two countries but also between the two peoples is increasingly strong. That gives me optimism that this positive momentum will continue in the future.

As the US Ambassador to Vietnam during President Trump’s first term, I personally saw that our two countries made great strides in building a partnership. This relationship has continued to strengthen under President Biden, and so I am optimistic that our cooperation will continue to develop during President Trump’s second term.

Former US Ambassador to Vietnam - Mr. Daniel Kritenbrink. Photo: Le Anh Dung

As Ambassador Vinh mentioned, I believe that the US will continue to pay special attention to the Indo-Pacific region, and that is good for the bilateral relationship.

Of course, one area that needs careful attention is the economic and trade relationship between the US and Vietnam. President Trump wants to use tariffs to promote US economic interests, and like other countries around the world, Vietnam will need to face these challenges with great tact.

During this time, Vietnam is looking to develop its economy and expand market access for foreign private enterprises, especially American enterprises. So, I think Vietnam is actively seeking cooperation and developing its relationship with the Trump administration. These are key factors in the coming time.

Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh: I also share the opinion of Mr. Daniel Kritenbrink, which is the expectation that the relationship between the two countries will continue to develop for the benefit of both sides and we have many new opportunities, not just the existing opportunities.

For a long time, we have relied on traditional trade and now we are developing technological cooperation, cooperation on rare earths and there are beginning to be cooperation related to security, defense... These areas continue to bring benefits to both sides. The visit to the US by Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien has brought up many areas where the two sides can cooperate.

However, Mr. Daniel Kritenbrink also shared about the challenges in the relationship between the two countries. We have witnessed stories related to tariffs to create new benefits for the United States such as for Europe, China, Canada, Mexico... We also have to proactively respond, have dialogue with each other and share benefits so that everyone benefits.

Regarding the Indo-Pacific, we have not seen a comprehensive policy in terms of foreign policy and national security of the United States towards this region as in the first term of Mr. Trump. However, I think that on the one hand, Mr. Trump promotes the interests of the United States but on the other hand, he is still connected to this region and to do that, Mr. Trump needs allies and partners.

"If we look at the bigger picture, we can see that there are many other areas of cooperation such as aerospace, nuclear energy, and undersea cables for telecommunications," Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh said. Photo: Le Anh Dung

Consistency in messaging from Vietnam's leaders

Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh, what do you think about the opportunities for Vietnam to promote relations with the US through trade and economic diplomacy?

I want to talk about Vietnam's policy and message. The biggest message is that we highly value our relationship with the US in all areas, including economics and trade, as two countries with a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The second point is that with America's new priorities, our message regarding trade and economy is that Vietnam wishes to have multifaceted, in-depth, balanced and harmonized cooperation with the US, with mutual benefits.

Looking at the visit of the Minister of Industry and Trade to the US, there are several points. First, we will review the possibility of Vietnam buying more goods from the US, and what contracts are in place to ensure mutual benefits. Second, we will review policies and bottlenecks in the relationship between the two countries to find ways to resolve them together. Third, we will find new areas of cooperation, such as investment cooperation in Vietnam's strategic industrial sectors, including semiconductors, chips, digital transformation and green transformation.

Personally, I think that if we look at the bigger picture, we can see that there are many other areas of cooperation such as aerospace, nuclear energy, undersea cables for telecommunications, etc. These are stories and big messages that show that we want to continue to promote all-round relations for mutual development with the US. We discuss, remove administrative barriers, barriers related to the law, and at the same time find opportunities for both sides to have better contracts.

It is very interesting that at the beginning of the year, a large-scale delegation of the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) just visited and worked in Vietnam. I believe that on the one hand, American corporations and businesses continue to value Vietnam's economy and cooperate with Vietnam. Secondly, along with Vietnam's new development orientations, American businesses see many opportunities for cooperation, including technological transformation, innovation, digital transformation and green transformation...

They also recognized some difficulties and challenges in the Vietnam-US relationship with Mr. Trump’s new policy. Accordingly, on the one hand, they advised Vietnam on what steps to take to suit the interests of both countries. At the same time, they also listened to Vietnam’s messages, guidelines, and policies in an effort to create favorable conditions for US businesses to do business in Vietnam and for the common trade of the two countries.

Former Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink will elaborate as he is in the delegation.

Mr. Daniel Kritenbrink: I had the honor of joining the delegation of the US-ASEAN Business Council to Vietnam that Ambassador Vinh just mentioned. I would like to share some things that deeply impressed me.

First of all, the US-ASEAN Business Council has never organized such a large delegation to any country in the world. This is remarkable. Therefore, I am very optimistic about the future of Vietnam, because it is clear that the US business community sees great potential for growth in this market.

The second thing that impressed me was the consistency in the message from Vietnamese leaders. General Secretary To Lam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and many leaders from ministries and sectors took time to welcome the delegation. I was particularly impressed with the message we received that: Under the leadership of General Secretary To Lam, Vietnam will focus on economic development, expanding the private economy, attracting foreign investment, especially in strategic areas such as high technology, energy, health care, etc.

I believe that American businesses have the ability to provide leading solutions in all of these essential areas for Vietnam. This is where the interests of the United States and Vietnam intersect, which makes me even more confident in Vietnam's future and the partnership between the two countries.

As Ambassador Vinh mentioned, there are certainly challenges. This happens in any market. However, the willingness of Vietnamese leaders to engage directly with and listen to the concerns of the US business community is commendable. Vietnam has been very active in listening to and addressing the concerns of US businesses in the past. Therefore, I believe that in the coming years, economics and trade will continue to be an important highlight in the Vietnam-US bilateral relationship.

"The most remarkable thing about the past 30 years of the special partnership and friendship between the United States and Vietnam is that we have built an unprecedented level of trust. That is the foundation for the partnership between the two countries and also the reason we were able to upgrade the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," said former Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink. Photo: Le Anh Dung

The US and Vietnam have built unprecedented trust.

So what are the shortcomings and solutions to develop the Vietnam - US relationship more deeply and sustainably, sir?

Former Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink: I think it is completely natural and normal that there are some differences in the bilateral relationship.

The most remarkable thing about the 30 years of the special partnership and friendship between the United States and Vietnam is that we have built an unprecedented level of trust. That is the foundation for our partnership and the reason we were able to upgrade our relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. I believe that this solid foundation will help both sides continue to face and overcome differences in our views in the future.

In the next few years, I think the biggest difference will be in the area of ​​trade. As Ambassador Vinh and I have mentioned, dealing with the Trump administration’s trade policies, as well as the tariffs that the US is imposing globally and potentially in Vietnam, will be the most important challenge that needs to be addressed.

From the lessons learned during Mr. Trump’s first term, I believe that the two sides should continue to maintain regular dialogue, based on mutual respect. I believe that our Vietnamese partners have outlined a specific roadmap, including increasing purchases from the US, improving market access conditions, and cooperation in many other areas.

Of course, there are still other challenges to be resolved, including some immigration-related issues and historical issues. However, I am confident and optimistic that with a foundation of mutual trust, the two sides will be able to work together to resolve these issues well in the coming time.

2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam, and I think it is important to look back at the past and the trust that the two countries have built since then.

I want to tell a short story related to this. When I was appointed as the US Ambassador to Vietnam in 2017, I met with my predecessor, the first US Ambassador to Vietnam, Mr. Pete Peterson. During that meeting, I told Ambassador Peterson that I thought what the US and Vietnam had gone through and achieved together was a “miracle”. But he said: “No! This is not a miracle.” Because the word “miracle” implies that the cooperative relationship between the US and Vietnam today was a coincidence, an act of God, or an event that happened naturally.

He pointed out that the partnership and friendship that our two countries enjoy today is the result of decades of hard work, courage, determination and goodwill. It is these persistent efforts that have built this solid foundation without any miracles. That is why I am optimistic that our two countries can continue to face and overcome the challenges in the coming time.

Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh: The two countries have promoted relations over the past 30 years based on understanding and trust. This is a very strong foundation. There may be many differences, but perhaps under the Donald Trump administration, it is a story about economics and trade, as we shared in this exchange.

Vietnam has a very correct roadmap and approach to promote dialogue and promote the harmony of interests. Vietnam is also ready to make domestic adjustments and reforms because this is also in Vietnam's interests in the process of entering a new era, reaching a higher level of economic development. We are actively streamlining the apparatus, increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of state management agencies. At the same time, we are also reducing and minimizing administrative bottlenecks, points that need to be removed in terms of law and economy.

This coincides with the time when we look back at the demands placed on the Vietnam-US relationship under the second term of Donald Trump's administration.

I would like to introduce the new role of former Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink. He will certainly continue to be a friend of Vietnam and promote Vietnam - US relations in the future. That is Mr. Daniel's participation in Asia Group. This is a strategic consulting group for American businesses and large enterprises involved in doing business with the region, one of the key areas of which is Vietnam. This group has connected many large American businesses and corporations to do business with Vietnam as well as with countries in the region.

In his new position on the Board of Directors of Asia Group, I believe that Mr. Daniel will play a more active role in promoting economic, trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and the United States as well as other partners in the region.

Former Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink: You also asked about The Asia Group, and I am honored to share more. The challenges of this new era of commerce are greater than ever, requiring companies to think carefully about their strategies. But alongside the challenges, there are also countless opportunities. We see ourselves as a trusted partner to businesses in both Asia and the US, helping them navigate and succeed in this new era.

We have many American clients who want to expand their operations in Asia, as well as many Asian clients who need assistance in penetrating the US market. More notably, some Asian clients come to us to help them expand into other Asian markets.

I am honored to work with Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh, who brings extensive expertise and works closely with our Hanoi office. He helps us navigate the challenges and opportunities in Vietnam, and supports businesses in making appropriate plans for the Vietnamese market.

Dear Sir or Madam,

The achievements over the past 30 years are creating new momentum for Vietnam and the US to realize the extensive and far-reaching cooperation contents stated in the Joint Statement of the two sides in September 2023.

Most experts and scholars expressed their belief that in the coming years, Vietnam-US relations will continue to develop more strongly, especially in the fields of economics, trade and investment.

Thank you to the two guests for their very helpful comments and analysis during today's discussion.

Hello and see you again!

Vietnamnet.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/quan-he-viet-my-thanh-qua-hom-nay-la-hang-thap-ky-no-luc-quyet-tam-thien-chi-2386600.html