US Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has said he is committed to US efforts to support Vietnam in important areas and deepen the bilateral comprehensive partnership.

US Senator Jim Risch

“Over the past quarter century, the United States and Vietnam have overcome the wounds of war to build a strong partnership in the areas of trade, development, public health, energy, defense, and people-to-people ties,” reads a statement released by the senator on July 11 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam.

“I am committed to advancing US efforts to support a strong, prosperous, and independent Vietnam and deepen our comprehensive partnership. The United States must continue to prioritize engagement with Vietnam on important areas such as regional security, trade and economic cooperation, as well as human rights and the rule of law,” Senator Risch states.

The senator notes that this year, the United States also recognizes and supports Vietnam’s chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). “Despite limitations on in-person engagements this year due to Covid-19, the United States applauds Vietnam’s work in promoting a “Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN.”

The United States remains committed to future cooperation with Vietnam and other ASEAN partners to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region and tackle shared challenges, according to the statement

“I look forward to further strengthening our relationship with Vietnam over the next 25 years and beyond.”

On the same day, the US Congressional Caucus on ASEAN said in tweet: “Today marks the 25th anniversary of the US-Vietnam diplomatic relationship. We appreciate the long-standing cooperation with Vietnam and applaud them for successfully chairing ASEAN this year.”

In the morning of July 12, 1995 (Hanoi time), US President Bill Clinton announced the normalization of diplomatic relations with Vietnam, 20 years after the Vietnam War ended. Hours later, the then Vietnamese Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet made the same move.

The two countries lifted their relations to comprehensive partnership in July 2013 when President Truong Tan Sang visited Washington.

Trade between the two former war foes has risen from US$450 million in 1995 to US$77 billion in 2019. The US is now Vietnam’s largest export market.