Vietnamese leader Tô Lâm arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City to begin activities attending the High-Level General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly and bilateral engagements in the United States. Welcoming the delegation at the airport were Vietnam’s Ambassador to the U.S. Nguyễn Quốc Dũng and Ambassador Đỗ Hùng Việt, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, alongside embassy and mission staff.
Vietnamese Leader Tô Lâm Arrives in New York for United Nations and Bilateral Events
According to Thanh Niên, relations between Vietnam and the United Nations are in a strong and substantive development phase. During the visit, Tô Lâm will share success lessons from 40 years of Đổi Mới and contribute initiatives addressing global challenges such as climate change, sustainable development, and core technology governance. The high-level discussions also encompass the right to development, fair transition, sea-level rise, pandemic prevention and response, and nuclear disarmament. Officials noted that the visit helps advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the United States.
Economic Ties and Trade Growth Between Vietnam and the United States
Bilateral economic, trade, and investment cooperation stands out as a prominent driver of engagement between the two economies. Data from the Ministry of Industry and Trade indicates that total bilateral trade reached approximately $137.42 billion through the first eight months of the 2026 period, marking a 23.4% increase compared to the same timeframe in the previous year.
Đỗ Ngọc Hưng, Trade Counsellor and Head of the Vietnam Trade Office in the U.S., emphasized that the two economies possess complementary strengths. Vietnam maintains strengths in processing industries, consumer goods, electronics, textiles, footwear, wood products, and agricultural and aquatic goods, while the U.S. excels in technology, machinery, equipment, energy, aviation, raw inputs, and agricultural products. Trade officials highlighted significant remaining room to expand two-way trade by leveraging these complementary advantages and shifting toward higher quality, technology, and value chains.
Engagement With Vietnamese Experts and Intellectuals in the United States
During his stay in New York, Tô Lâm held a working session with Vietnamese experts and intellectuals to discuss technological capabilities, AI development directions toward 2030 with a vision to 2045, unmanned aerial vehicle research potential, and global capital attraction strategies.
During the meeting, the leader acknowledged existing technological gaps, constraints in core technology mastery, and research infrastructure limitations in Vietnam. Citing Resolution 23-NQ/TW of the Politburo, Tô Lâm reiterated that overseas Vietnamese remain an inseparable part of the national community and a vital strategic resource. He requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Education and Training to establish clear coordination channels, invite overseas researchers to contribute to policy formulation and training programs, and ensure favorable conditions regarding institutional support and working arrangements.