On February 18, 2026 (local time), during attending the opening meeting of the Gaza Peace Council in Washington D.C. at the invitation of US President Donald Trump, Chairman of the Gaza Peace Council, General Secretary To Lam had a phone call with Senator Steve Daines (Republic - Montana), member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Senator Bill Hagerty (Republic - Tennessee), member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Standards Committee, US Senate.
* At a phone call with Senator Steve Daines, General Secretary To Lam thanked and highly appreciated Senator Steve Daines' efforts in promoting the US Senate to pass the Resolution "Commemorating the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the US and Vietnam", showing the support of both US parties as well as Senator personally for Vietnam and Vietnam-US relations.
The General Secretary requested the two sides to maintain economic - trade - investment relations in a stable and sustainable direction and the US Congress to continue to pay attention to allocating resources to support Vietnam in overcoming the consequences of the war, especially the dioxin remediation project at Bien Hoa airport, bomb and mine disposal, support for people with disabilities/war victims, and promote support for searching, gathering, and identifying Vietnamese troops missing and missing in the war.
The General Secretary affirmed Vietnam's commitment to continue to fully and responsibly cooperate with the US side in searching for missing US soldiers in the war.
Senator Steve Daines expressed his impression of Vietnam's socio-economic development achievements; pleased to witness the US becoming Vietnam's second largest trading partner; and affirmed that Vietnam is an important economic partner of the US in the region and wished the two countries to soon complete the reciprocal trade agreement.
Senator Steve Daines highly appreciated Vietnam's participation in the Peace Council, demonstrating its role as a proactive, active, and responsible member of the international community in solving common regional and international issues.
* At a phone call with Senator Bill Hagerty, the General Secretary requested the two sides to continue to promote the momentum of cooperation, strengthen delegation exchanges at all levels, including the parliamentary channel; maintain and promote economic - trade - investment cooperation in a stable and sustainable direction; and at the same time hoped that the US Congress would continue to pay attention to and allocate resources to support Vietnam in the fields of overcoming war consequences, handling bombs and mines, dioxin detoxification, and supporting war victims, and at the same time, affirmed to continue to fully and responsibly cooperate with the US side in searching for missing US soldiers.
Senator Bill Hagerty expressed his appreciation for Vietnam's increasing role and position, affirming his desire for the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to continue to be deepened on the basis of the common interests of the two countries.
The Senator said that the two sides have made many important progress in negotiating a reciprocal, fair and balanced trade agreement; believing that with an open, frank and mutually respectful spirit, the two sides will soon complete the agreement.
Senator Hagerty affirmed that strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries will contribute to strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
Appreciating and thanking Vietnam for its active and responsible cooperation in searching for missing US soldiers, Senator Bill Hagerty affirmed that the US Congress and Government will continue to closely coordinate with Vietnam in overcoming the consequences of the war.
The Senator also agreed with the General Secretary on the importance of maintaining regular contact and dialogue between the two sides, expressed his desire to return to Vietnam soon to continue direct exchanges on measures to promote bilateral relations, and sent New Year greetings to the General Secretary and the people of Vietnam on the occasion of the Lunar New Year.
