Ambassador Marc Knapper Highlights Vietnam’s Active Role in Strengthening Bilateral Relations

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Over the past 30 years, Vietnam-US bilateral relations have expanded significantly, with economic cooperation emerging as a key pillar. That was the assessment of US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper during a press briefing on July 8.

US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper. (Photo: Nhat Hong)

A relationship built on multiple pillars

According to Ambassador Knapper, the Vietnam-US relationship has been nurtured through various pillars of cooperation, which have been continuously strengthened over the past three decades.

Vietnam is the eighth-largest trading partner of the US, while the US is Vietnam’s largest export market. US companies have invested heavily in Vietnam, and an increasing number of Vietnamese businesses are also investing in the US.

This past May, the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Maryland welcomed more than 100 Vietnamese investors exploring business opportunities in the US, the largest-ever Vietnamese business delegation to participate in the event.

According to the Ambassador, this demonstrates that Vietnam is placing great importance on investing in the US and reflects the deepening and strengthening of economic relations between the two countries.

Another vital pillar is education cooperation. Vietnam ranks sixth globally in the number of students studying in the US, with approximately 30,000 Vietnamese students. Including those participating in various forms of learning within the US education system, this number could reach up to 300,000.

In April 2025, a delegation of 21 US universities visited Vietnam to explore cooperation opportunities with local institutions. (Photo: HCMIU)

American universities are also showing increasing interest in Vietnam. In April 2025, a delegation of 21 US universities visited Vietnam to explore cooperation opportunities with local institutions. The Ambassador believes that educational cooperation between Vietnamese and American institutions will enable more academic exchanges, allowing researchers, scholars, and professors from both countries to study and teach in each other’s institutions.

The US is also committed to supporting Vietnam’s policy of gradually adopting English as a second language in schools, viewing this as a crucial step toward expanding opportunities in high technology and education.

According to Ambassador Knapper, cooperation in health began with joint efforts to combat HIV/AIDS through the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has supported Vietnam since 2005. This cooperation has since expanded to include tuberculosis and COVID-19 prevention.

Recalling that Vietnam provided personal protective equipment to the US during its time of greatest need, and that the US later supplied Vietnam with 44 million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, the Ambassador emphasized that health surveillance cooperation will be an important aspect of responding to future pandemics.

On promoting cooperation in high-tech and semiconductors, Ambassador Knapper noted that the Joint Statement on Elevating Vietnam-US Relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September 2023, issued by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Joe Biden, was a "historic achievement" that emphasized high-tech collaboration, particularly in the semiconductor sector.

Major US tech corporations such as Marvel and Nvidia are actively seeking to expand cooperation in Vietnam through various means, including investment, joint research, production, and technology transfer.

The Ambassador remarked that Vietnam is fully capable and ready to rise within the global high-tech manufacturing value chain. This will benefit not only Vietnam but also the US.

General Secretary and State President To Lam attends a business forum co-hosted by the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC), US Chamber of Commerce (USCC), and the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) in the US, September 23, 2024. (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

“The US wishes to accompany Vietnam on its journey to becoming a high-tech and clean energy economy, as envisioned by senior leaders. The more we cooperate in high-tech sectors, the more our people and economies stand to benefit,” Ambassador Marc Knapper affirmed.

Former President Joe Biden once stated that the relationship between the US and Vietnam brings hope to every other country. If the US and Vietnam can become friends, then anyone can. Over the past 30 years, the two countries have continually collaborated to address post-war legacy issues. Vietnam has supported the US in searching for missing American soldiers. In turn, the US has assisted Vietnam in clearing landmines and addressing the consequences of Agent Orange.

Ambassador Knapper emphasized that although many aid programs under the US Agency for International Development (USAID) have ended, numerous humanitarian projects in Vietnam have been transitioned to the US Department of State, Department of Defense, and other relevant agencies. Programs related to explosive ordnance clearance and support for people with disabilities affected by Agent Orange in Vietnam continue to be implemented.

Vietnam is a proactive and engaged partner

Regarding reciprocal tariffs, Ambassador Marc Knapper emphasized that Vietnam responded very swiftly. General Secretary To Lam was among the first world leaders to hold a phone conversation with President Donald Trump following the US leader’s announcement of the reciprocal tariff policy. Just one week later, a Vietnamese delegation traveled to Washington to engage directly with US counterparts.

According to Ambassador Knapper, this demonstrated that Vietnam is highly proactive and engaged, placing it among the earliest countries to initiate dialogue with the US administration on this matter.

Ambassador Knapper affirmed that the ongoing high-level and frequent exchanges between the two countries’ leaders reflect the quality of the Vietnam-US relationship. It also demonstrates the US’s respect for Vietnam and its strong desire to ensure that this relationship continues to grow and flourish.

In recent times, the Vietnamese Government has implemented several major policy changes, reflecting a strong commitment to streamlining administrative procedures and attracting more foreign investment. The US Ambassador believes these policies will significantly improve the efficiency of administrative procedures, saving time and effort for foreign investors.

With policies that promote private investment and place greater emphasis on high-tech industries and digital infrastructure, the Ambassador expressed confidence that these initiatives will make Vietnam an even more attractive destination for investment.

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