Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Cuong has called on the governors of states of the United States to back the ongoing negotiations on the Trans-Asia Pacific (TPP) agreement.

Ambassador Cuong’s appeal came at talks with the governors of the states of Wisconsin, Iowa, Delaware, Mississippi, Colorado and Utah, and leaders of the National Governors Association (NGA), on the fringes of the NGA’s Summer Meeting in Wilwaukee city of Wisconsin state on August 1-4.

The TPP-themed talks were also joined by the Ambassadors from Japan, Singapore and Peru, which are taking part in the TPP negotiations.

The diplomat also urged the US side to support the TPP when it is debated at the federal and state Congresses as the document, once signed, will step up regional economic integration and help the benefiting countries fulfil their development goals.

He used the occasion to inform the governors of the outcomes of President Truong Tan Sang’s recent official visit to the US, including the commitments to accomplishing the TPP agreement within 2013 by the two countries’ Presidents.

Trade between Vietnam and the US has grown over 140 percent in the past five years, of which agriculture posted a 200 percent-more growth rate, he added, expressing his expectations that these growth rates would continue the rising trend as a result of the signing of the TPP agreement.

At the event, the participating governors all pledged support for trade liberalisation, reasoning its significant role behind global economic growth.

They praised efforts made by Vietnam and other TPP member countries in building an agreement with highest international standards and committed to accelerating the negotiations in 2013.

On this occasion, Ambassador Cuong and his colleagues met with businesses of Milwaukee city, many of whom are running business in Vietnam.-VNA