Vietnam President To Lam Visits US and Canada

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam and President Tô Lâm departed Hà Nội on September 20 to lead a high-ranking delegation to the United States and Canada. The mission, scheduled through September 25, includes attendance at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Tô Lâm intends to share lessons from Vietnam's 40 years of Đổi mới and propose initiatives regarding climate change and technology governance.

While in New York, Tô Lâm is conducting bilateral engagements to promote the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the United States. On September 21, he met with Joe Sims, leader of the Communist Party USA, to discuss Vietnam's goals of becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a developed, high-income country by 2045.

The itinerary also includes a state visit to Canada at the invitation of Governor General Louise Arbour. This marks the first time in over 50 years of diplomatic relations that Canada has hosted Vietnam's Party chief and president. Canada aims to use the visit to double trade and investment over the next five years, focusing on cooperation in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, aerospace, and energy transition, including nuclear technology.