NEW YORK — US President Joe Biden will meet with Vietnamese President To Lam on September 25 during the UN General Assembly in New York, as part of Biden’s efforts to deepen ties with Vietnam, a key Southeast Asian manufacturing hub. The meeting aims to bolster strategic relations amid growing competition with China and Russia, with which Vietnam also maintains ties.
In his final address to the UN General Assembly on September 24, Biden called for continued support for Ukraine against Russia and stressed the need for diplomacy to address rising tensions in the Middle East.
President To Lam, on his first visit to the US as Vietnam’s president, has already met with representatives of major US companies, including Amazon, Procter & Gamble, and Visa, urging them to support Vietnam’s bid for removal from the US list of non-market economies and to enhance cooperation on semiconductor supply chains.
Biden’s visit to Vietnam a year ago resulted in significant agreements on semiconductors, minerals, and an upgrade in diplomatic ties. The meeting with To Lam is seen as a continuation of efforts to strengthen US-Vietnam relations.