As 2020 marks the 25th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam, let’s have a look back at the US – Vietnam relations for year so far and the strategic partnership in the future in the post below.
Establishment of US – Vietnam Relations
The partnership of the two countries was officially set up in 1950 but only until 1995 the United States only announced the formal normalization of diplomatic relations with Vietnam.
Many years later, the relationship has been extremely good when 2015 marked the 20th ceremony, and in 2016, Vietnam for the first time welcomed President Obama to visit the country. One year later, in 2017, the Prime Minister also had his trip to visit the USA for the purpose of strengthening the Comprehensive Partnership of the two nations.
US – Vietnam Relation Milestones
Let’s see how both countries develop their relationship chronologically with the following timeline.
- 1991: The George Bush Administration presents Hanoi a 4-step roadmap plan for normalization in April and then Washington officially allows American tourists, veterans, journalists, businessmen to visit Vietnam in November in the same year;
- 1994: President William J. Clinton lifts the U.S. trade embargo against Vietnam in February, then in May, the Consular Agreement was signed by the two;
- July 1995: President William J. Clinton announces the normalization of relations with Vietnam;
- May 1997: The two countries exchange Ambassadors. Mr. Le Van Bang becomes Vietnamese Ambassador to the U.S. Mr. Douglas Peterson becomes U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam.
- October 1998: Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cam took his first official visit to USA;
- November 2000: The U.S. Department of Labor and Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs of Vietnam sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Labor cooperation;
- July 2005: 10th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations with a visit of Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Gordon Mansfield to Hanoi;
- May 2006: Signing of bilateral agreement on Viet Nam’s accession to WTO (World Trade Organization).
- June 2007: President Nguyen Minh Triet visits the United States.
- June 2008: Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung visits the United States.
- May 2020: Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc holds phone talks with US President Donald Trump on the diplomatic relationship and bilateral cooperation in dealing with COVID-19.
Development of US – Vietnam relations
From time to time, the relation between the US and Vietnam has been increasingly constructive and cooperative, of which the US side encourages and supports Vietnam in terms of social affairs, economic growth, and human rights, etc. The United States, therefore, continually facilitates the Asian country in key fields including politics, military, education, science and technology, international trades, war legacy issues, sustainable environment, high-quality labor sources, and so on.
The bilateral relation is actually much brighter for Vietnam when the US now is the second largest trading partner of the country. The value of trading witnessed a surge from US$400 million in 1994 to US$77 billion in 2019, and in 2020 with the bad effect from COVID 19, it is recorded $26 billion in the first 5 months of the year.
Moreover, Vietnam is proud to be the host of the US – North Korea 2nd summit in Feb 2019, expecting a trusted and positive connection between the 2 countries.