US top diplomat Rubio urges Vietnam to address trade imbalance

25/1/2025 7:44

New U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a call on Friday with Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son in which he urged Vietnam to address trade imbalances and also discussed shared concerns about China.



In the call, the first between the two top diplomats under the new administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the two hailed the 30th anniversary of U.S.-Vietnam relations and progress made under a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership the countries agreed in 2023, a State Department statement said.



"The Secretary also discussed regional concerns to include China’s aggressive behavior in the South China Sea," it said.



While praising the two countries' economic cooperation, Rubio "encouraged Vietnam to address trade imbalances," it said.