Biden Seeks to Strengthen US-Vietnam Ties in Final UN Assembly Appearance

President Joe Biden will meet with Vietnam's president, To Lam, to fortify US-Vietnam relations and counter the influence of China and Russia. The meeting occurs on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Both countries are set to discuss trade restrictions, semiconductor supply chains, and diplomatic upgrades.

President Joe Biden is scheduled to conduct talks with Vietnam's President and ruling Communist Party chief To Lam on Wednesday. This meeting will mark Biden's concluding appearance at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The discussion, taking place on the fringes of the annual summit of global leaders, forms part of Biden's strategic efforts to bolster ties with Vietnam, a crucial Southeast Asian nation. The goal is to enhance relations with Vietnam, a critical manufacturing hub, and counter the influence of China and Russia, with whom Vietnam also maintains connections. In his farewell UN speech on Tuesday, Biden urged support for Ukraine's fight against Russia and pushed for a diplomatic response to rising tensions in the Middle East.

During his visit, To Lam, in his first trip to the U.S. as president, engaged with U.S. corporate representatives such as Amazon, Procter & Gamble, and Visa. He requested backing for Hanoi's bid to remove trade restrictions, including being lifted from the list of non-market economies, and proposed cooperation on semiconductor supply chains. Ted Osius, President and CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council, and a former U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, remarked on To Lam's long-standing involvement with U.S. officials. Biden had also visited Vietnam last year, finalizing semiconductor and mineral deals and upgrading diplomatic relations between the nations.

(With inputs from agencies.)