Vietnam’s global engagement received a significant boost as Tô Lâm, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President, concluded a five-day visit to the United States and Canada. From September 20 to 25, Tô Lâm’s itinerary included attending the high-level General Debate of 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 trip to the US and Canada following Vietnam’s recent political transition.
According to Vietnamese Foreign Minister Lê Hoài Trung, the visit strengthened Vietnam’s international position and paved the way for deeper cooperative efforts. In his address at the UN, Tô Lâm emphasized the importance of multilateral cooperation and advocated for an enhanced role for the UN in tackling global challenges. The Vietnamese leader outlined Vietnam’s development priorities and foreign policy direction, highlighting the nation’s commitment to addressing both regional and global issues.
During his time in North America, Tô Lâm engaged with senior officials, lawmakers, business leaders, academics, and Vietnamese communities in both countries. Discussions with US counterparts focused on bilateral relations and mutual interests, including trade and investment. In Canada, Vietnam and Canada agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership, supported by an actionable plan covering various cooperation areas.
Vietnamese officials and business representatives also held separate meetings with partners in the US and Canada. These discussions resulted in agreements spanning trade, investment, technology, education, energy, and transport sectors. Lê Hoài Trung highlighted the need for Vietnam to implement the commitments reached during the trip, particularly in science and technology, trade, investment, defense and security, energy, and education sectors.
The potential for expanded nuclear energy cooperation was also noted as a promising area for future collaboration. Lê Hoài Trung emphasized that Vietnam should focus on these opportunities to further solidify its standing on the international stage.