Blinken to visit Vietnam next week
HANOI: US Secretary of State Anthony Blincoln will visit Vietnam next week, said Senator Jeff Merkley at a press conference in Hanoi on Saturday (April 8) in an effort to take diplomatic relations with Hanoi to a higher level this year. said as part of
Blincoln’s visit, which has not yet been officially announced, will come after US President Joe Biden had a phone call last week with Nguyen Phu Trong, secretary of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party.
The United States hopes to upgrade its relationship with Hanoi in July this year to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the Comprehensive Partnership with Vietnam.
“The secretary of state will be here next week,” Senator Merkley told reporters during a visit to Vietnam by a delegation of US congressmen aiming to strengthen relations with Hanoi.
Blinken is expected to visit Vietnam on Saturday before attending a meeting of foreign ministers of the G7 (G7) countries in Japan from 16 to 18 April.
During the call, Biden and Trong agreed to strengthen the relationship, according to statements from both sides after the conversation, but there was no mention of an official relationship upgrade.
Prior to the call, several analysts said Vietnam was cautious about upgrading this year out of fear it could create tension with China.
The United States is Vietnam’s largest export market, but the United States is currently considered Hanoi’s third-tier diplomatic partner. The top tier consists of China, Russia, India, and South Korea, while the second tier, which the US wants to join, includes European countries and Japan.
