President Joe Biden has concluded his first international trip as commander-in-chief, wrapping up a summit of world leaders from the Group of 20 (G-20) major economies. After the summit, the president departed Italy for Vietnam, where he will continue bilateral talks with leaders from several ASEAN nations.
During his trip, Biden used the G-20 Summit to focus on climate change, economic inequality and the COVID-19 pandemic. At the summit, he announced a major climate change initiative, the “Paris Call for Action,” which seeks to double collective global climate finance by 2021 to help developing countries respond to the climate crisis. Additionally, at the summit, Biden reaffirmed U.S. commitment to the Paris Agreement and urged other countries to join.
In Vietnam, Biden will meet with leaders from ASEAN nations to discuss areas of common interest, including security in the South China Sea, human rights concerns, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. The Biden Administration has sought to strengthen relations with ASEAN in order to counterbalance China’s dominating influence in the region.
Biden’s visit to Vietnam marks a historic breakthrough, as it is the first time a sitting U.S. president has traveled to Vietnam since the Vietnam War ended in 1975. During his stay in Hanoi, the president is expected to discuss ways to improve economic cooperation and investment opportunities. He may also visit a demilitarized zone near the former border between the two countries.
