70th anniversary of Hanoi's Liberation Day Vietnam - Asia 2023 Smart City Summit Hanoi celebrates 15 years of administrative boundary adjustment 12th Vietnam-France decentrialized cooperation conference 31st Sea Games - Vietnam 2021 Covid-19 Pandemic
Home / News / Viet Nam
Mike Pompeo arrives in Hanoi for surprise visit
Minh Anh 00:54, 2020/10/30
Secretary Pompeo in July stated that the US government is committed to making the next 25 years of the US-Vietnam ties “a model of international cooperation and partnership."

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has arrived in Hanoi on Thursday evening for a surprise visit as the two former foes are moving to strengthen their comprehensive partnership amid China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea, local media reported.

 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrives in New Delhi, India on October 26, 2020. State Department Photo by Ron Przysucha

The visit was made at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh, and appears to result from a last-minute decision.

During his brief visit until October 30, Mr. Pompeo will meet with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh, and Minister of Public Security To Lam, the US Department of State said in a release.

 A screenshot of Secretary Pompeo's Twitter post.

The visit is “to reaffirm the strength of our comprehensive partnership, celebrate the 25th anniversary of US-Vietnam diplomatic relations, and discuss issues in the South China Sea and Mekong regions of mutual concern,” adds the statement.

Vietnam is the last stop in Mr. Pompeo’s Asia tour that included India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Indonesia. Vietnam was not originally scheduled for this visit, which “is another manifestation of the strengthening ties between the two countries amidst the increasing strategic tensions between the US and China,” wrote Le Hong Hiep, a fellow at the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute, in an article published on The Diplomat.

Vietnam was the first country in Southeast Asia that Mr. Pompeo visited in July 2018 after taking office.

 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (left) and Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh shake hands in Hanoi, July 9, 2018. Photo via VOA

In a statement commemorating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the US and Vietnam in July 2020, Secretary Pompeo stated that over the last quarter century, the two countries have built a partnership and friendship founded on shared interests, mutual respect, and people-to-people ties. The US government is committed to making the next 25 years of the US-Vietnam ties “a model of international cooperation and partnership.”

During Pompeo’s visit, the two sides are expected to discuss how Vietnam and the US can cooperate to advance a Free and Open Indo-Pacific and ASEAN’s Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, according to Prof. Carl Thayer, a Vietnam expert.

“The United States stands with our Indo-Pacific allies and partners in protecting their sovereign rights to offshore resources in the South China Sea, consistent with their rights and obligations under international law,” said the State Department statement.

Vietnam is one of America’s fastest growing markets while the latter is one of the former’ biggest export markets. Over the last 25 years, two-way trade has jumped from US$450 million in 1994 to more than US$81 billion in trade annually today.

At the recently-concluded Indo-Pacific Business Forum held in Hanoi, Vietnam and the US announced seven deals worth billions of US dollars, mainly in energy and agribusiness sectors. They are expected to help balance bilateral trade.

RELATED NEWS
TAG: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Pham Binh Minh Nguyen Xuan Phuc Hanoi Vietnam Indo-Pacific Business Forum
Other news
08:37, 2024/04/28
Artifacts from Dien Bien Phu victory on display at Ho Chi Minh Museum
The exhibition has historical educational value for the public, the armed forces, tourists, and students.
21:06, 2024/04/27
Hanoi streets colored ahead of Reunification Day
The banners and posters depict the 49th anniversary of Reunification Day, the 141st anniversary of International Workers’ Day, and the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory.
12:57, 2024/04/27
New Year of Asian countries celebrated in Hanoi
The Lunar New Year, collectively known as Water Festival, is not held in any country but has taken place in Hanoi for 20 years, demonstrating Hanoi is City for Peace and Vietnam is a destination of friendship.
19:03, 2024/04/26
Party Central Committee accepts National Assembly Chairman's resignation
Vuong Dinh Hue has violated the Party's rules on prohibited behaviors for Party members, the regulations on the responsibility of Party officials and members, especially Politburo members, to set an example.
20:08, 2024/04/25
Vietnam, Indonesia eye lifting relations
The two ASEAN member states are working on multifaceted cooperation, especially economic ties, with a view to upgrading relations when they celebrate the 70th anniversary of bilateral ties in 2025.
11:58, 2024/04/25
Vietnam news in brief - April 25
Keep up to date with Vietnam news via The Hanoi Times.