US wants to play active role in Southeast Asia
Washington D.C (VNA) – Chief
Operating Officer of the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)
David Marchick has stressed that DFC wants to play an active role in the
development of Southeast Asia, with a big priority to the Greater Mekong
Sub-region (GMS).
He made the statement during an online discussion with Ambassadors of ASEAN member
states in Washington D.C. including Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Ha Kim Ngoc,
together with Indo-Pacific Coordinator of the US National Security Council Kurt
Campbell and Director of the ASEAN-US Business Council Alex Feldman.
DFC will pay attention to climate change, sustainable development, investment
in green energy projects and support for Southeast Asia in handling COVID-19
pandemic via strengthening medical system and distributing vaccines, he said.
He added that DFC will also assist small and medium-sized enterprises in the
fields of agriculture and education while working with partners such as Japan,
the Republic of Korea, Australia and Taiwan (China) to improve the efficiency
of projects.
According to
him, potential of cooperation between DFC and Vietnam remains huge.
Campbell, for his part, highlighted the importance of ASEAN in the US’s polices
and the need to enhance linkage between ASEAN ambassadors and the US Government’s
organs. He expressed his hope for an early meeting between US Secretary of
State Antony Blinken and his ASEAN counterparts to talk bilateral cooperation
areas in the near future.
Vietnamese
Ambassador Ngoc hailed the US’s efforts to promote energy development and
facilitate trade and medical assistance for Southeast Asia.
On the occasion, he suggested the US Government continue helping countries in
Southeast Asia and the GMS develop a sustainable supply chain, improve digital
trade capacity and attract investment in high-quality infrastructure such as
Long Thanh international airport in Vietnam, renewable energy and liquefied
natural gas.
He wished that the US would assist ASEAN member states in accessing COVID-19
vaccines, stepping up investment in the form of public-private partnership, and
approving US-ASEAN cooperation frameworks./.