U.S. welcomes Viet Nam' accession to Artemis Accords

The Department noted that space exploration is entering a new era of discovery and opportunity, with growing importance for scientific advancement, economic growth, and the technologies that will shape the future.

As the 78th signatory, Viet Nam joins a growing coalition of nations dedicated to space policy that will extend the reach of human discovery and innovation using safe, transparent, and responsible space exploration and use, it noted, adding that the nation will help put these shared principles into practice as a committed partner in the peaceful, cooperative use of space.

Viet Nam's decision extends the U.S.-Viet Nam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership into a new frontier. Built on more than 30 years of cooperation, the partnership spans defense, economic, law enforcement, war legacy, and technological cooperation, and it advances peace, stability, and prosperity in a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan signed the Accords on October 28. U.S. Ambassador to Viet Nam Jennifer Wicks witnessed and celebrated the signing at a ceremony on the margins of Viet Nam International Digital Week in Ha Long, the northern province of Quang Ninh.

Addressing the event, Vu affirmed that Viet Nam regards space science and technology as an important field that helps strengthen the country's scientific and technological capabilities and supports sustainable development.

The country prioritizes enhancing its autonomy in space technology and data, promoting applications in resource management, environmental protection, climate change response and disaster prevention and mitigation, he said, affirming that Viet Nam aims to gradually develop a space economy ecosystem and strengthen its capacity to govern space activities.

Viet Nam looks forward to working with other signatories to promote cooperation in space exploration and use for peaceful, safe, equitable, transparent and sustainable purposes, in accordance with international law, thereby delivering tangible benefits to humanity and the Earth, stated the minister.

The Artemis Accords establish a set of common principles to guide international cooperation in the exploration and use of the Moon, Mars and other celestial bodies for peaceful purposes.

These principles seek to enhance transparency and interoperability between systems, facilitate the sharing of scientific information, provide assistance to astronauts, and promote the responsible and sustainable use of outer space, thus laying the groundwork for countries to coordinate their efforts in safe, peaceful and sustainable space exploration.

The U.S. and seven other countries established the Artemis Accords in 2020 during President Trump's first term to serve as a set of practical principles to guide responsible space exploration./.