US President Biden heads to Vietnam for state visit

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – US President Joe Biden will arrive in Vietnam on Sunday, a trip meant to deepen bilateral cooperation.

He flew to Hanoi from New Delhi, India where he attended the G-20 leaders' summit, which adopted a consensus declaration on Saturday.

Biden is expected to meet the head of the ruling Communist Party Nguyen Phu Trong and other leaders and explore opportunities to promote the growth of the Vietnamese economy, expand people-to-people ties, and combat climate change.

The US and Vietnam have increasingly close trade ties, and the visit is being keenly observed as Washington is strengthening its presence in the wider Asia-Pacific to counter China’s expanding economic and military influence in the region.

The two nations established diplomatic relations in 1995, 20 years after the end of Vietnam War.​​​​​​​