Name: In Hanoi, Biden Deepens Relations With Vietnam, Hoping to Expand Economic Reach Into China’s Backyard
Uploaded: 2023-09-11T17:44:36.000Z
Description: HANOI, Vietnam—President Joe Biden arrived in Vietnam on Sunday after wrapping up his meetings at the Group of 20 summit in India. Upon his arrival, the president participated in a bilateral meeting with Communist Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong, and both leaders formally announced an elevated partnership, sending a strong message to China.

Stefania Cox is an NTD News anchor and national correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Stefania anchors "NTD Newsroom," and co-anchors "NTD News Today" weekdays at 10:00 am ET.

Stefania Cox

Cary Dunst is the news anchor for NTD Evening News. He is also the co-host of NTD Good Morning.


Cary Dunst

NTD Plus

News

We present news that is truthful and based on facts, outside of the political fog. Instead of focusing on the negative things happening around us, our mission is to give our viewers a good morning with empathetic and uplifting stories. Our aim is to provide an antidote to negativity by shining a light on the best side of people. We speak to inspiring people who positively impact communities, pursue topics that represent our common human values, and will never miss an opportunity to bring you heartwarming stories.

NTD Good Morning

Smart Spending: How to Save on Summer Travel

UAE Suffered More Iranian Missiles Than Israel, Paving Way for Iron Dome: Analyst

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

Washington Event to Rededicate US as ‘One Nation Under God’

Best-Selling Author Concerned Christians May Be Next in China’s State-Sanctioned Organ Trade

Jason Perry is an Army veteran and NTD's National Security Correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Jason primarily covers border security, national defense, foreign wars, and veterans' issues.

Jason Perry

Pentagon Paves the Way to Buy 10,000 Containerized Missiles

US Reports No Hantavirus Cases From Cruise Outbreak

Juliette Fairley is a freelance reporter for NTD and The Epoch Times and a graduate of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. Born in Chateauroux, France, and raised outside of Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, Juliette is a well-adjusted military brat. She has written for many publications across the country. Send Juliette story ideas at JulietteFairley@gmail.com

Juliette Fairley

Daniel Monaghan is a reporter for NTD News covering culture, social issues, and education. He holds a BA in Political Science and Government.

Daniel Monaghan

US News

Politics

Executive Branch

Rubio: China is ‘Top Geopolitical Challenge’

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

Jury Awards $49.5 Million to Family of Woman Killed in 2019 Boeing Max Crash

Andrew Moran has been writing about business, economics, and finance for more than a decade. He is the author of "The War on Cash."

Andrew Moran

China News

Trump Departs China After 2-Day Talks With Xi

Haika Mrema

Medical Plane Crash in New Mexico Mountains Kills 4, Sparks Wildfire

Accommodating, Enabling China’s Regime a Failed Strategy: China Expert

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 15)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 14)

Kevin Hogan is an NTD News data reporter and national correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Kevin covers breaking news, as well as U.S. and global current events. He conveys the news through data visualizations and investigates pressing issues.

Kevin Hogan

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 13)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 12)

President Trump Leaves for China Today; Calif. Mayor to Plead Guilty to Acting as CCP Agent | NTD Good Morning (May 12)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 8)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 7)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 6)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 5)

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

China Sends Warships to Pacific Drill as Tensions With Japan Rise

Reuters is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages.

Reuters

2 US Embassy Personnel Assigned to Cartel Case Killed in Car Accident

Gunman Kills 8 Children, Including 7 of His Own, in Louisiana Mass Shooting

Flora Hua is a reporter based at NTD's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers China news, U.S.-China relations, and human rights issues. Flora primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus."  

Flora Hua

Trump: Seized Iranian Ship May Have ‘A Gift From China’

Joseph Lord is a congressional reporter for The Epoch Times.


Joseph Lord

Aldgra Fredly is a freelance writer covering U.S. and Asia Pacific news for The Epoch Times.

Aldgra Fredly

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized in Critical Condition: Spokesman

Wildfires Across Georgia and Florida Have Destroyed Nearly 50 Homes and Are Forcing Evacuations

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

US Warns of China Hacks via Routers, Smart Devices

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

2 Americans Among Suspected Communist Rebels Killed in Clashes With Troops, Philippine Officials Say

Ryan Morgan is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on military and foreign affairs. He was previously a news writer for NTD. 


Ryan Morgan

Mari Otsu is NTD's White House correspondent based in Washington. 

Mari Otsu

World News

Middle East

Iran

3 US Warships Fend Off Iranian Attacks, Trump Says Ceasefire Still Holds

Health News

3 Dead in Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship in Atlantic Ocean: WHO

HANOI, Vietnam—President Joe Biden arrived in Vietnam on Sunday after wrapping up his meetings at the Group of 20 summit in India. Upon his arrival, the president participated in a bilateral meeting with Communist Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong, and both leaders formally announced an elevated partnership, sending a strong message to China.

The Vietnamese government, promoting the United States to its highest level of relations, referred to it as a "comprehensive strategic partner."

So far, only China, Russia, India, and South Korea have achieved this degree of partnership with Hanoi.

President Biden called the visit "historic" during a press conference following his meeting. He praised the progress in relations between both countries "from conflict to normalization."

"This is the new elevated status that will be a force for prosperity and security in one of the most consequential regions in the world," President Biden said.

The purpose of the Vietnam trip "was less about containing China," President Biden added, emphasizing the importance of "stability" in the Indo-Pacific.

"I don't want to contain China. I just want to make sure that we have a relationship with China," he said.
<h2> Warm Welcome From Communist Leader</h2>
President Biden and Mr. Trong reportedly spoke on the phone months ago and agreed to elevate the partnership between the two countries.

Upon his arrival, President Biden participated in a welcome ceremony hosted by Mr. Trong in front of the Presidential Palace.

US President Joe Biden attends a welcoming ceremony hosted by Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (2L) at the Presidential Palace of Vietnam in Hanoi on Sept. 10, 2023. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Later, the president and the general secretary met in a big wood-paneled conference room at the Communist Party headquarters, a building with a hammer and sickle on the front just across the street from the palace.

Both leaders' exchanges during the meeting had noteworthy moments.

The Vietnamese leader enthusiastically welcomed the president and stated that their meeting would be a vital opportunity to deepen the relationship. Mr. Trong, 79, went on to laud President Biden's appearance despite his age.

"You have nary aged a day, and I would say you look even better than before," he said. "Every feature of you, Mr. President, is very much complimentary of your image."

Biden, 80, laughed off the flattering comments from Mr. Trong, Vietnam's longest-serving leader since the war era.

"I think we have an enormous opportunity," President Biden responded, adding that the partnership between both countries was coming at a critical time.

Both leaders have a long-standing relationship. Mr. Trong was the first leader of the Vietnamese Communist Party to visit the United States in 2015 during the Obama administration, during which time then-Vice President Biden hosted him for dinner.

The United States and Vietnam have made efforts to move beyond the traumatic experiences of the Vietnam War. According to the White House, this new partnership will be a turning point for both countries as they seek to address challenges jointly on everything from the South China Sea to supply chains and critical technologies.

"This can be the beginning of even a greater era of cooperation," President Biden said during his meeting with Mr. Trong.

The elevated partnership is "a pretty big deal," according to Gregory Poling, senior fellow and director of the Southeast Asia program and the Asia maritime transparency initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

It’s important because Vietnam is "a communist state that will never be a U.S. ally, on the border with China, sending a pretty loud political message that they are worried enough about Beijing that they’re willing to elevate the U.S. relationship formally to the highest level," Mr. Poling explained during a press briefing ahead of President Biden’s visit.

"And all of that is driven by anxieties about China," he noted.

Vietnam has benefited tremendously from companies seeking to diversify supply chains from China, once touted as the "factory of the world." Vietnam's talented workforce, pro-business policies, and incentives have been making the country attractive for investors. However, Vietnam has also been experiencing capacity issues due to an infrastructure shortage.

In addition, China is the largest trade partner, investor, and provider of development funding for many countries in Southeast Asia. This makes it challenging for the United States, especially in the near term, to surpass China's influence in the region.
<h2>G20 Summit</h2>
President Biden also briefed reporters about progress achieved in India during the G20 Summit on the weekend.

"This was an important moment for the United States to demonstrate our global leadership and our commitment to solving the challenges that matter most to people around the world," he said.

During the press conference, the president was bombarded with questions about growing tensions with China.

"I am sincere about getting the relationship right," the president told reporters. "China's beginning to change some of the rules of the game in terms of trade and other issues," he added, referring to concerns about its new ban on iPhones.

"China has a difficult economic problem right now for a whole range of reasons," Biden said.

<em>From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/in-hanoi-biden-deepens-relations-with-vietnam-hoping-to-expand-economic-reach-into-chinas-backyard-5489183">The Epoch Times</a></em>

Latest

VIETNAM

Videos

01_Lead Story

04_Top Stories

Premium Picks

Latest Clips

hanoi

biden

Asia &amp; Pacific

Management

Emel Akan is a senior White House correspondent for The Epoch Times, where she covers the Biden administration. Prior to this role, she covered the economic policies of the Trump administration. Previously, she worked in the financial sector as an investment banker at JPMorgan. She graduated with a master’s degree in business administration from Georgetown University.

Emel Akan

Iris Tao is NTD's White House correspondent based in Washington. Prior to her work at the White House, Iris reported on U.S. politics and U.S.–China relations from NTD’s New York headquarters. She holds degrees in journalism and economics from Boston University.

Iris Tao

02_Second Lead

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.