Thayer Consultancy Background Brief:

ABN # 65 648 097 123

US-Vietnam Relations: Post
Mortem – 3
September 12, 2023

Vietnam and the United States raised their bilateral relations to a Comprehensive
Strategic Partnership (CSP).
Q1. What is your assessment of the details contained in the CSP? Do any parts of the
joint leaders’ statement standout to you?
ANSWER: The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) for Peace, Cooperation and
Sustainable Development, agreed to by President Joe Biden and General Secretary
General Nguyen Phu Trong, builds on and deepens the nine areas of on-going
cooperation under the 2013 Comprehensive Partnership.
Four areas stand out:
First, President Biden and General Secretary Trong both affirmed that “innovation-
driven inclusive economic growth” was a “core foundations and sources of
momentum in the bilateral relationship.” Cooperation in this area will be quite
extensive.
Second, President Biden and General Secretary Trong agreed that “strengthening
science, technology, and digital innovation cooperation” was a “new breakthrough”
in bilateral relations under the CSP.
Third, there will be extensive reciprocal engagement in all areas of education and
training in Vietnam and the United States to produce the next generation of
specialists, especially in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
Fourth, the CSP adds a new tenth area of cooperation – coordination on regional and
global issues – in the United Nations, APEC, East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum,
ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus, ASEAN-related sectoral meetings and in
Mekong-subregion.
Q2. How do you assess Biiden’s visit to Vietnam thus far in comparison this President
Bill Clinton's visit in 2000?
ANSWER: President Bill Clinton came to Vietnam five years after he normalised
diplomatic relations with the reunified Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Before his arrival
in Hanoi Clinton said he hoped his visit “opens a new page in our relations … hopefully
one that will put an end to the divisions.” It took another thirteen years before
bilateral relations were codified in a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
 2

President Biden’s visit was shorter and focused on the formalities of meeting
Vietnam’s “four pillars” leadership (party leader, state president, government prime
minister and National Assembly chairman) and officially announcing the elevation of
bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Biden’s visit resulted in
concrete achievements that will have a long-lasting impact.
Both visits were milestone in the trajectory of Vietnam-United States relations.

Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, “US-Vietnam Relations: Post Mortem – 3,”

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Thayer Consultancy provides political analysis of current regional security issues and
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