Kuala Lumpur, October 26, 2025 – The Europe Today: Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính of Việt Nam held a brief but significant meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday on the sidelines of the 13th ASEAN–U.S. Summit, during his attendance at the 47th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
During their exchange, the two leaders agreed to advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Việt Nam and the United States toward greater depth, substance, and effectiveness — with a shared vision for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development.
Both sides affirmed their commitment to expediting the conclusion of a Reciprocal Trade Agreement, emphasizing fairness, equality, and enhanced U.S. investment in Việt Nam.
Prime Minister Chính raised Việt Nam’s long-standing proposal for recognition as a market economy and for removal from the U.S. strategic export control lists D1 and D3. In response, President Trump welcomed the proposals and instructed senior American officials — including the Treasury Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative — to promptly provide assessments and feedback on the issues.
Prime Minister Chính commended President Trump’s efforts in promoting peaceful conflict resolution globally and expressed Việt Nam’s readiness to cooperate closely with the United States to sustain global stability and economic growth.
The meeting reflected a shared understanding and mutual respect, further underscoring both nations’ determination to strengthen their strategic partnership.
On this occasion, Prime Minister Chính conveyed an invitation from Party General Secretary Tô Lâm and other senior Vietnamese leaders for President Trump to pay an official visit to Việt Nam. President Trump warmly accepted, expressing his eagerness to visit “in the near future.”
Prime Minister Chính also proposed that Party General Secretary Tô Lâm visit the United States under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework. President Trump welcomed the suggestion and said he looked forward to hosting both the Party chief and Prime Minister Chính in Washington when mutually convenient.
13th ASEAN–U.S. Summit
Later in the day, Prime Minister Chính joined ASEAN leaders and President Trump for the 13th ASEAN–U.S. Summit, held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
In his address, the Vietnamese leader congratulated President Trump on the United States’ recent achievements and praised his diplomatic efforts to foster global dialogue and peaceful settlements. He particularly highlighted U.S. cooperation with Malaysia, the current ASEAN Chair, and other ASEAN members in facilitating peace talks between Cambodia and Thailand, which culminated in the signing of a Joint Declaration of Peace earlier in the day.
Recognizing the United States as one of ASEAN’s most comprehensive strategic partners, Prime Minister Chính proposed four major orientations to further deepen ASEAN–U.S. relations:
- Enhancing economic, trade, and investment connectivity toward a balanced, harmonious, and sustainable partnership.
- Promoting cooperation in digital transformation, innovation, and energy security, including energy infrastructure development and peaceful nuclear energy collaboration.
- Strengthening cybersecurity and combating transnational crime, drawing on U.S. initiatives against online fraud and Việt Nam’s efforts to enhance the pursuit of wanted criminals.
- Maintaining peace, stability, and security in the region, particularly in the East Sea (South China Sea), in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Prime Minister Chính reiterated that ASEAN and the United States share common interests and responsibilities in ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
For his part, President Trump reaffirmed that Southeast Asia holds a central position in Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy, describing the U.S. as a “steadfast partner and friend” of the region. He pledged to deepen cooperation with ASEAN not only in economics, trade, technology, energy, and AI but also in peace, stability, and prosperity for future generations.
Trump further emphasized that the United States would continue to work with ASEAN in full respect of its centrality and the legitimate interests of its member states, helping the region tackle shared challenges.
At the conclusion of the summit, ASEAN and U.S. leaders adopted the “Joint Vision Statement on a Stronger, Safer, and More Prosperous ASEAN–U.S. Partnership,” setting the strategic direction for future cooperation.
Leaders from the bloc commended the United States for its active and constructive engagement in ASEAN-led mechanisms and praised President Trump’s personal commitment to fostering dialogue and peace, including his support for the Cambodia–Thailand Peace Declaration signed in Kuala Lumpur.
The summit reaffirmed that ASEAN–U.S. relations continue to expand comprehensively and effectively across multiple sectors — with a shared goal of promoting high-quality trade and investment, digital innovation, energy security, and regional stability.
Both sides concluded by reiterating their vision of building a peaceful, secure, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, grounded in cooperation, mutual respect, and adherence to international law.
