US President Donald Trump will attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Da Nang, Viet Nam, in November together with the US-ASEAN and East Asia meetings in the Philippines as well.

US President Donald Trump (Photo: AFP/VNA)

The information was announced by US Vice President Mike Pence during his visit to the headquarters of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on April 20.

Trump’s administration will work with ASEAN on security issues, trade, and freedom of navigation in the East Sea.

Viet Nam and the United States elevated ties to a new level under the Obama administration amid the former’s disputes with China over East Viet Nam Sea issues, while Trump has also expressed his hope for a stronger relationship.

APEC, established in 1989, is a regional economic forum comprised of 21 member states, including Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the United States, and Viet Nam, among others.

The forum aims to create greater prosperity for the peoples of the region by promoting balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative and secure growth, as well as accelerating regional economic integration.

Viet Nam joined the forum in 1998, successfully chaired APEC 2006, and is scheduled to host the 2017 gathering in Da Nang in November.

U.S President Trump has been involved with indirect talks with Viet Nam’s top leaders since his presidential election victory in November 2016.

In a letter sent to Viet Nam’s State President Tran Dai Quang in late March, Trump “affirmed his wishes to promote cooperation on economic, trade, regional and international issues,” according to the Vietnamese government’s website.

In mid-December 2016, then President-elect Trump told Viet Nam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in a telephone call he wanted to continue strengthening the fast-warming ties between the two countries.

The Vietnamese head of government also said in March that he is ready to visit the United States to promote ties, particularly in trade.

(Source: VNA/Tuoitrenews)