Exclusive-Biden expected to meet Vietnamese president on Wednesday, source says By Reuters

By Trevor Hunnicutt

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to meet Vietnam’s President and ruling Communist Party Chief To Lam on Wednesday, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The meeting is expected to take place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The White House had no immediate comment. A Vietnamese foreign ministry spokesperson previously had not said whether Lam would meet Biden during the trip.

Biden has been eager to deepen relations with the strategic Southeast Asian country and manufacturing hub in a bid to counter Russia and China, with which Vietnam also retains ties.

Last September, Biden visited Vietnam and secured deals on semiconductors and minerals and an upgrade to Hanoi’s highest diplomatic status, alongside China and Russia.

In his first trip to the United States since he was named in early August as head of the party, the country’s most powerful job, Lam will speak at the U.N. event and meet with representatives from several U.S. corporations, including Alphabet (NASDAQ:)’s Google and Facebook (NASDAQ:) owner Meta, Reuters previously reported.

Lam’s trip also includes a stop in Cuba, Vietnam’s long-term Communist partner.