President Joe Biden on Wednesday sat down with Vietnamese General Secretary Tô Lâm on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, one year to the month since he visited the Southeast Asian country. 

What You Need To Know

  • President Joe Biden on Wednesday sat down with Vietnamese General Secretary Tô Lâm on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, one year to the month since he visited the Southeast Asian country 
  • During brief remarks in front of press at the top of their meeting, Biden recounted that trip in Sept. 2023,  saying it “began a new era” in the two countries’ relations, listing investments in semiconductors, cooperation on cybersecurity and a united commitment to an open Indian Ocean
  • Biden’s trip to the country last September came as Vietnam elevated the U.S. to its highest diplomatic status – a level Hanoi previously gave to China and Russia 
  • Biden has looked to shore up relations with Indo-Pacific nations and throughout Asia in general amid tensions with China

During brief remarks in front of press at the top of their meeting, Biden recounted that trip in Sept. 2023,  saying it “began a new era” in the two countries’ relations. 

“Since then I've been very proud of the progress we made,” he added, listing investments in semiconductors, cooperation on cybersecurity and a united commitment to an open Indian Ocean. 

The president also touted U.S. investment in remediating dioxin-contaminated soil that can be harmful for those exposed. In 2019, the U.S. launched a dioxin remediation project at Bien Hoa Air Base, a major site during the U.S.-Vietnam war. 

It comes one day after the president in his address to the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly specifically pointed to current ties between the U.S. and Vietnam to make the case that relationships around the globe are important. Biden's speech was viewed is seen as an implicit rebuke of his predecessor, former President Donald Trump who has adopted a more isolationist approach to America’s place on the world stage. 

“Last year, in Hanoi, I was — met with the Vietnamese leadership, and we elevated our partnership to the highest level,” Biden said on Tuesday. “It’s a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity for reconciliation that today the United States and Vietnam are partners and friends, and it’s proof that even from the horrors of war there is a way forward.” 

Biden’s trip to the country last September came as Vietnam elevated the U.S. to its highest diplomatic status – a level Hanoi previously gave to China and Russia. 

During that visit, Biden insisted the strengthening of ties with Vietnam was not about “containing China” but rather about establishing a “stable base” in the region as the U.S. was navigating rocky relations with Beijing. 

Biden has looked to shore up relations with Indo-Pacific nations amid tensions with China, including last weekend when he hosted the leaders of Japan, Australia and India – fellow members of the so-called Quad – for a summit at his personal home in Delaware. 

During that meeting, Biden was caught on a live microphone telling the leaders that he believes China’s recent aggressiveness is a move aimed at testing the region.

“China continues to behave aggressively, testing us all across the region, and it’s true in the South China Sea, the East China Sea, South China, South Asia and the Taiwan Straits,” Biden was heard saying. “At least from our perspective, we believe [Chinese leader] Xi Jinping is looking to focus on domestic economic challenges and minimize the turbulence in China’s diplomatic relationships, and he’s also looking to buy