President Joe Biden met with Vietnamese President To Lam in New York with the aim of deepening relations with Vietnam, a key manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, where they discussed accelerating the strategic partnership agreed upon last year. They highlighted investments in semiconductors, cybersecurity, freedom of navigation, and the rule of law.
Lam emphasized Vietnam’s commitment to independence, self-reliance, and multilateralism, positioning the country as a friend and reliable partner. He also engaged with representatives of U.S. companies like Meta to expand investments in Vietnam. Lam urged Washington to remove Vietnam from the list of non-market economies, increase economic cooperation, and collaborate on semiconductor supply chains.
Although Biden secured deals in semiconductor and mineral trading during his visit to Hanoi last year, concerns remain over human rights abuses in Vietnam. U.S. Rep. Michelle Steel called on Biden to address these issues directly.
During their meeting, Biden and Lam discussed the economic cooperation plans and strategies for dealing with the complex regional dynamics in Southeast Asia, particularly with China. The meeting was seen as an opportunity for Lam to strengthen his position as Vietnam’s top leader and maintain a balanced stance between major powers like the U.S., China, and Russia. The issue of Vietnam’s non-market economy status was raised, but it was clarified that any concessions would need to adhere to Commerce Department criteria.
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