At the conclusion of her three-day tour to the Southeast Asian country, US Vice President Kamala Harris said that her visit to Vietnam “signals the beginning of the next chapter” (The Beginning Of A New Era) in the two nations’ relationship during a news conference on June 26.
“We have maintained a long-standing commitment to this partnership because it is critical to the American people’s security and prosperity. And we have faith in the Vietnamese people,” she said.
Harris lauded the bilateral relationship’s progress since normalization, stating that the two nations are fortifying their cooperation and are prepared to tackle both traditional and future problems and challenges.
Asserting that she is aware that the COVID-19 outbreak is the Vietnamese people’s primary concern at the moment, the Vice President informed that 1 million doses of Pfizer vaccine arrived in Vietnam at noon on August 26, bringing the total number of vaccine doses shared by the US with Vietnam to six million.
The US Vice President remembered Vietnam’s assistance to the US during the pandemic’s early days, emphasizing that “we are now here for you in your hour of need.” She also emphasized the CDC’s new Southeast Asia Regional Office in Hanoi, which opened earlier this year.
“We intend and hope that the Vietnamese people understand that we will stand with them as they fight this surge,” Harris said.
According to the Vice President, the two nations would continue to collaborate to expand their economic relations even in the face of the epidemic. She specifically highlighted bilateral cooperation in the digital economy, ethnic minority and women’s issues, smart agriculture, and climate change.
Harris emphasized the critical nature of climate change action by referencing a US study that predicted temperatures will increase by up to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit by 2030.
“At that point in time, the situation is critical,” she said. “We are honored to join with Vietnam and other global partners and friends in confronting this moment.”
The US Vice President reiterated the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and said that the US would continue to cooperate on high-level security issues and to support a strong, prosperous, and independent Vietnam.
She said that the US would continue to cooperate with Vietnam to defend freedom of navigation and the rule-based international order against threats.
Vietnam is of “special significance and importance to the United States,” she stated, noting that the US intends to strengthen its participation and partnership with its partners and allies, as well as advance and strengthen shared interests collaboratively, addressing current and future challenges together.
According to the Vice President, she was reminded of the region’s potential during her tour and many discussions with Vietnamese government officials and business leaders. She stated her conviction that strengthening collaboration benefits both peoples.
She said that during the trip, a 99-year lease for the establishment of the US Embassy in Hanoi was signed, demonstrating the US’s lasting commitment to the Vietnam relationship.
When asked about the US’s particular strategies for developing relationships with Vietnam, Harris said that the relationship is really based on mutual understanding, with a shared goal to improve both countries’ security and economic position, as well as their capacity to face future challenges.
Harris had earlier visited the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology to witness the handover of 270,000 of the 1 million doses of vaccine provided by the US to Vietnam during the Vice President’s visit.