US seen as important strategic partner of Vietnam

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets with Chairman of the US-ASEAN Business Council Keith Williams (Photo: VGP)

During the reception, PM Phuc affirmed the Vietnamese government’s resolve to reform the country’s business environment and provide all possible support for foreign businesses, including those from the US.

Over the past years, the Vietnam-US comprehensive cooperation partnership have continued to develop in a substantial and effective manner across a variety of fields, in which the US business community plays a highly important role.

PM Phuc said he himself and ministers have always taken heed to approving and speeding up the implementation of major US projects in Vietnam.

Regarding Vietnam’s goal of achieving a balanced trade with the US, the Vietnamese cabinet leader suggested that the USABC should play a greater role in boosting bilateral ties and the flow of US investment into the Southeast Asian nation.

Vietnam has worked out an action plan towards a harmonious and sustainable trade balance between Vietnam and the US with a focus on removing policy obstacles in order to facilitate the US's investments in Vietnam. Phuc said.

PM Phuc urged both sides to further deepen the strategic partnership towards celebrating the 25th anniversary of Vietnam – US diplomatic ties as the next year is of great significance for bilateral ties.

He also asked the USABC to continue serving as an important bridge between the two governments to enhance the comprehensive partnership, with economic-trade ties being a foundation. PM Phuc urged US enterprises to continue paying greater attention to the Vietnamese market by running direct or indirect investments in fields of Vietnam’s demand such as infrastructure, aviation and finance-banking.

He wished that the USABC would continue helping major US firms to embark on business trips to Vietnam next year when the country will undertake the role of ASEAN Chair, thus further stepping up the US-ASEAN trade and investment ties.

Williams, in turn, congratulated Vietnam on its achievements, including its successes at the freshly-ended 30th SEA Games and election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and ASEAN Chair.

He said he is sanguine about about Vietnam’s gross domestic product growth and exports, and hoped that the USABC would partner with Vietnam in bolstering exports.

The USABC greatly values Vietnam’s successes in foreign direct investment attraction and desires to boost a balanced trade between the two countries, he said.

The USABC members said the US is ready to assist Vietnam in fulfilling the role of ASEAN Chair next year and they voiced support for the US to bolster ties with ASEAN member states, including Vietnam.

The USABC agreed to assist ASEAN in workforce, digital transformation and capacity improvement for ASEAN small and medium-sized enterprises, they added.

PM Phuc assured the Vietnamese Government’s readiness to facilitate US businesses’ investment in Vietnam, thus serving as a driving force to augment the effective and substantive cooperation between the two countries in the time to come.