Last year, two-way trade between Vietnam and the US surpassed 123 billion USD, up 11% year on year. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien has hailed the US as one of the toptrade partners and importers of Vietnam during a recent reception in Hanoi forUS Trade Representative Katherine Tai.
Tai has been on her firstvisit to Vietnam and the first visit at the economic ministerial level of President Joe Biden’sadministration.
The visit marks thestart of activities in celebration of the 10th founding anniversary of the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership this year.
Dien underlined thetwo countries’ potential of cooperation in climate change response, energytransition, digital transformation and green growth.
Vietnamsupports efforts to deepen the bilateral relations, as well as multilateralcooperation mechanisms and initiatives led by the US that are beneficial toensuring global and regional peace, stability and development, including theIndo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), he said.
The minister suggested Tai continue upholding her role as an important bridge betweenthe two governments to strengthen the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership.
Healso proposed the US soon materialise its commitments to supporting Vietnam andcountries in delivering on international agreements on climate change response,including the Declaration on the Just Energy Transition Partnership.
Vietnamis ready to partner with the US to successfully hold the APEC Year 2023, he said.
Tai,for her part, said there will be more activities in the US-Vietnam relations thisyear. She vowed to work closely with Vietnam on e-commerce and spoke highly ofVietnam’s participation in regional economic connectivity over the past years.
TheUS will give priority to strengthening cooperation frameworks to buildefficient and sustainable economic and investment ecosystems, thereby creatinga new driving force for regional economic development, she said.
The major priority of the US Government is to promote sustainable, resilientand inclusive trade recovery and economic growth on the basis of lessonslearned from the recent COVID-19 response, she said.
Tai also shared prioritiesand plans for the APEC Year 2023 hosted by the US and mentioned basic contentsof the IPEF.
The host and guest discussedbilateral cooperation within the APEC framework, basic contents of the IPEF, sub-regionalcooperation and joint work in climate change response, energy transitionand digital transformation.
They highlighted thesignificance of promoting free, open, fair trade in accordance with internationallaw as well as sustainable and inclusive growth in the region in which ASEANcountries play a central role.
Last year, two-waytrade between Vietnam and the US surpassed 123 billion USD, up 11% year on year./.
