Biden to visit Vietnam after G-20 summit in India
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US President Joe Biden had announced in early August that he would soon be traveling to Vietnam.
PHOTO: AFP
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WASHINGTON - US President Joe Biden will visit Vietnam on Sept 10 for a meeting with ruling Communist Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong, the White House announced on Monday.
The stop in Hanoi, which will follow on the heels of a multi-day visit to India for the Group of 20 (G-20 ) summit,
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Mr Biden and leaders in Vietnam would “promote the growth of a technology-focused and innovation-driven Vietnamese economy”, as well as expand education exchanges.
The discussions will also tackle ways to “combat climate change, and increase peace, prosperity and stability in the region”.
Mr Biden had announced in early August that he would soon be travelling to Vietnam, saying that Hanoi “wants to change our relationship and become a partner”.
In addition to increasingly close trade links, the United States and Vietnam both share concerns over China’s growing strength.
Friction has been increasing for years between China and South-east Asian nations, particularly Vietnam and the Philippines, over Beijing’s sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea.
Washington and Hanoi pledged in April to upgrade diplomatic relations when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stopped over on his way to a Group of Seven foreign ministers’ meeting in Japan. AFP
