Vietnam leaders congratulate US President Joe Biden on inauguration

By Huyen Le January 20, 2021 | 11:51 pm PT

Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th President of the United States as his wife Jill Biden holds a Bible on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, January 20, 2021. Photo by Reuters/Kevin Lamarque.

Party chief, President Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Thursday congratulated U.S. President Joe Biden on his inauguration.

In a congratulatory message to Biden, the 46th U.S. President, Trong and Phuc expressed their hopes for prosperity and happiness for all of the U.S. and its citizens, as well as global peace, stability, cooperation and development, according to a press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Vietnam believes the foundation of Vietnam-U.S. relations has been bolstered for the past 25 years, and would continue to grow with Biden as president, it said.

The same day, Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh also sent a congratulatory message to U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris.

Prior to their inauguration, the Vietnamese leaders took the opportunity to invite Biden and Harris to visit Vietnam at their earliest convenience.

Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th U.S. President at Capitol Building on Jan. 20, succeeding former President Donald Trump. At the age of 78, Biden became the oldest U.S. President in history.

Among the congratulations he received were messages from numerous world leaders, including Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and South Korean President Moon Jae-In.