According to the announcement, during his visit to Vietnam, Blinken will emphasize the deepening of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with key government officials in Hanoi. This visit underscores the importance of U.S.-Vietnam relations and the ongoing commitment to strengthening this bilateral partnership.

In a statement, President Joe Biden highlighted General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s strong support for deepening relations between the U.S. and Vietnam. Under Mr. Trong’s leadership, the friendship and partnership between the two nations were nurtured and developed. The historic visit of Party Chief Nguyen Phu Trong to the U.S. in 2015 was a significant milestone in bilateral relations.

"Thanks to his vision, during my state visit to Hanoi in 2023, Vietnam and the U.S. achieved the status of 'Comprehensive Strategic Partner,' the highest level of diplomatic relations with Vietnam. The people of Vietnam and the U.S., along with those in the Indo-Pacific region, now benefit from increased security and opportunities due to our friendship and partnership, a legacy of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s leadership,” U.S. President Joe Biden stated.

"The United States of America and I personally will always remember and cherish your commitment to reconciliation and building a future oriented towards peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and around the world. We honor your legacy and extend our deepest condolences to the people of Vietnam upon your passing," stated the U.S. President.

U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper expressed sorrow over Nguyen Phu Trong’s passing, describing him as a visionary leader who bridged Vietnam with the U.S. and the international community over many decades. He noted that Mr. Trong was the first Vietnamese party leader to visit the U.S., which significantly advanced the relationship between the two countries.

“The legacy of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is further cemented by the upgrade of our bilateral relationship to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2013, and a decade later to the highest level of diplomatic relations under his leadership and President Biden’s,” Knapper added.

“The U.S. will forever be grateful for Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong’s leadership in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity. The U.S. values its relationship with Vietnam and looks forward to working closely with President To Lam and other leaders to continue strengthening bilateral ties.”

“We respect the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political system of each other. In honoring Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong’s legacy, our relationship will continue to deepen, bringing peace and prosperity to both our nations,” the statement concluded.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will also visit Laos, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, and Mongolia. In Laos, Blinken will attend the annual U.S.-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting, the 14th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' meeting, and the 31st ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers' meeting. He will reaffirm the U.S. commitment to ASEAN’s central role and support for the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.

Additionally, Blinken and Laos’ Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith will co-chair the 3rd Mekong-U.S. Partnership Foreign Ministers' meeting to reaffirm U.S. cooperation for equitable, sustainable, and inclusive development in the Mekong sub-region.

Tran Thuong