FOREIGN AFFAIR
General Secretary, President To Lam has just concluded a successful official visit to the United States and Cuba from September 21 to 27. This marked his first trip to the U.S. and Cuba in his new role. It was also the first time a General Secretary, President of Vietnam attended high-level sessions at the United Nations General Assembly in person.
During his time in New York, from September 21 to 25, General Secretary, President To Lam participated in around 40 important activities. Notably, in his various engagements, he spread the message of a peaceful Vietnam that is committed to sustainable development and looking toward the future.
During this trip, General Secretary, President To Lam took time to meet with generations of Vietnamese intellectuals living in Houston, Texas. At the gathering, the leader of Vietnam expressed his hope that Vietnamese intellectuals in the U.S. and around the world would unite and continue contributing to the future development and a new era of the country. He reaffirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State always consider overseas Vietnamese as an inseparable part of the country, and he highly appreciated the dedication, vision, and meaningful contributions of Vietnamese intellectuals, who, despite living far from home, maintain a strong connection to their homeland.
The General Secretary, President also met with members of the Vietnam Innovation Network in the U.S. as well as American scholars and experts interested in Vietnam. He held meetings with leaders of several nations, including Vatican Prime Minister Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Kuwait Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Additionally, he met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, President of the 79th UN General Assembly Philemon Yang, UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Furthermore, General Secretary, President To Lam, engaged with top global corporations and investment funds such as Apple, Meta, and Super Micro.
On this occasion, numerous agreements between Vietnamese and U.S. businesses were signed, witnessed by Vietnam's top leader. These included cooperation agreements on energy transition and technology transfer between the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PVN) and Kellogg Brown & Root, a memorandum of understanding on software solutions in the electricity and oil sectors between PVN and General Electric, a cooperation agreement on liquefied natural gas (LNG) between the Petroleum Technical Services Corporation (PTSC) and Excelerate Energy, and a memorandum of understanding in the fields of AI, semiconductors, and the construction of a data center in Vietnam between Sovico Group and SuperMicro.
These accomplishments mark the success of General Secretary, President To Lam’s first official visit to the U.S., opening new prospects for the development of Vietnam-the U.S. and Vietnam-UN relations. The trip also contributed to enhancing Vietnam’s international standing and further solidifying the country’s image on the global stage.
In Cuba, the President’s State visit marked a significant historical moment, providing strong evidence of the special brotherly friendship between the two nations over the past 65 years, despite being separated by half the globe. This relationship has always been highly valued by both parties, states, and peoples.
During talks between General Secretary, President To Lam, and First Secretary, President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the two leaders expressed their determination to continue strengthening the traditional solidarity, special friendship, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba. They aim to elevate this relationship to new heights—more comprehensive, substantive, effective, and sustainable—based on a spirit of mutual cooperation and development for the benefit of both countries, the pursuit of socialism, and peace and development in the region and the world.
During the visit, General Secretary, President To Lam also held discussions with key Cuban leaders, laid wreaths at the monuments of President Ho Chi Minh and Cuban national hero José Martí, visited several economic sites with Vietnamese projects, and met with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community living, working, and studying in Cuba.
At a special meeting with Cuban friendship delegates and the country’s youth, General Secretary, President To Lam emphasized that in the history of the world, few relationships are as special as that between the two Parties, States, and peoples of Vietnam and Cuba. This relationship is exemplary, loyal, and has become a symbol of the era, built on the deep connection, empathy, and shared ideals of the two nations in their relentless struggle for independence, freedom, and socialism. General Secretary, President To Lam, announced that both countries’ leaders had agreed to designate 2025, marking the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations, as “Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Year.”
On this occasion, First Secretary, President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez awarded General Secretary, President To Lam the José Martí Order, Cuba’s highest honor, in recognition of his invaluable contributions to fostering the enduring solidarity and friendship between the two Parties, States, and peoples of Vietnam and Cuba.
During this visit, various Vietnamese and Cuban ministries and localities signed numerous cooperation agreements across various fields. Both sides also issued a joint statement on Vietnam-Cuba relations.
Hoang Duong