U.S. Senator Reveals Blinken's Visit to Vietnam Next Week

U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley has revealed that "U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Vietnam next week as part of Washington's efforts to elevate diplomatic relations with the Asian country this year." Data from both the Vietnamese and U.S. sides indicated that Biden and Trong agreed during a conversation to strengthen relations, but there was no mention of a formal enhancement of ties. Blinken's visit, which has not yet been officially announced, will follow U.S. President Joe Biden's phone call last week with Nguyen Phu Trong, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Blinken is expected to visit Vietnam likely on Saturday before heading to the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Japan from April 16-18. The United States hopes to advance its relations with Hanoi this year, ideally coinciding with the tenth anniversary of its comprehensive partnership with Vietnam, which will be in July.