According to three sources with knowledge of the deal’s planning, Politico reported on Friday that U.S. President Joe Biden will sign a strategic partnership agreement with Vietnam during a state visit to the Southeast Asian nation in the middle of September.
According to Politico, the agreement will open up new opportunities for bilateral cooperation and support Vietnam’s aspirations to expand its high technology sector in fields like semiconductor manufacturing and artificial intelligence.
Biden was considering a trip to Vietnam in September, according to a source familiar with the arrangements who spoke to Reuters on Friday.
Vietnam intended to strengthen its ties with the United States and become a significant partner, so Biden said he would be visiting there “shortly” this month.
Plans for the trip have not been confirmed by the White House. A request for comment on Saturday was not immediately answered by the foreign ministry of Vietnam. Pham Thu Hang, a representative for the ministry, did not confirm or reject a potential Biden visit on Thursday.
“High-level leaders of the two countries have agreed and are discussing measures to further deepen bilateral relations in a stable, substantive, and long-term manner, and aim to upgrade (the relation) to a new level when possible,” Hang said at a routine press conference.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and American Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated a desire to strengthen ties during a meeting in April as Washington tries to fortify relationships with allies in Asia to counter an assertive China.
Officials have not specified what the stronger ties may entail, but experts believe it may involve expanded military collaboration and the supply of American weapons.
