Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, July 2018

The visit reaffirms Vietnam-US relationship is thriving and that Vietnam plays an important role in the US’s policy in the region.

Pompeo chose Vietnam as his first Southeast Asian country to visit in July 2018 three months after taking office. Since then, he said during discussions with Vietnamese officials that for a century’s quarter, the two countries have built the relationship on the basis of shared interests and mutual respect, a foundation for Vietnam and the US to look forward to jointly building a shared future.

The visit takes place as the two countries are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their diplomatic ties this year.