The on-going visit to Vietnam by US Department of Commerce's Under Secretary for International Trade Francisco Sanchez is aimed at cementing the US-Vietnam ties with the focus on boosting education and trade cooperation.

The US official hosted at a press briefing in Ho Chi Minh City on April 6.

He informed that this was his first official visit to Vietnam and this was the first time that the US Department of Commerce led a mission with representatives from 56 universities, colleges, English-language institutes to a number of countries and Vietnam was the mission’s second leg.

Sanchez said that the US saw a great demand for education and training in Vietnam and US education organisations were always ready to team up with Vietnamese partners.

He also stated that the two countries have many areas for their cooperation and that the US Government expects the two countries’ two-way trade turnover will double in the coming time from 19 billion USD recorded in 2010.

Sanchez said the US wishes to partner with Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam ’s largest economic centre, in education and training, infrastructure development, airport construction and services.

Also on April 6, the US UnderSecretary met with Deputy Chairman of HCM City People’s Committee Le Minh Tri.

Tri said that cooperation in trade and investment between the US and Ho Chi Minh City developed markedly and effectively and affirmed to create favourable conditions for foreign investors, including US businessmen to the city, especially those with financial capacity and advanced technology.

During the visit from April 5-8, Sanchez and his mission attended an education exhibition in HCM City on April 6 and the similar other in Hanoi on April 8./.