Vietnam actively addressing US economic concerns: Party chief

Vietnam’s relevant ministries and agencies are making efforts to iron out U.S. concerns regarding bilateral investment-trade relations and high-tech products, Party chief To Lam said on Monday.

They are facilitating the import of U.S. products that align with Vietnam’s demand, especially farm produce, LNG, the Party general secretary told U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper at their meeting in Hanoi.

To Lam commended the positive developments in bilateral relations across spheres, highlighting steady growth in trade and investment ties.

Vietnam consistently regards the U.S. as a top strategic partner and seeks to strengthen cooperation to advance bilateral ties substantively and intensively, the Vietnamese leader said.

He expressed his hope for the effective implementation of the Joint Leaders’ Statement Elevating U.S.-Vietnam Relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and its Action Plan.

The Party chief lauded Ambassador Marc Knapper and the U.S. Embassy staff for their efforts in promoting and effectively realizing high-level agreements and cooperation content under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with collaboration extended across various sectors, including business, culture, and education.

The Vietnamese top leader emphasized the goal of maintaining balanced, harmonious, sustainable economic ties that deliver tangible benefits to both nations’ citizens.

In reply, Ambassador Marc Knapper noted that President Donald Trump’s administration attaches importance to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and hopes that the two countries will continue enhancing cooperation and implementing agreements effectively and substantively, for the sake of their people.

The diplomat spoke highly of Vietnam’s practical measures in fostering a balanced and sustainable bilateral trade relationship.

U.S. businesses and partners highly value trade and investment cooperation with Vietnam, viewing the country as a crucial partner in global supply chains, with its market offering many opportunities for U.S. products and services, he said.

Ambassador Knapper pledged that he will urge U.S. agencies to work together with the Vietnamese side to fruitfully put in place agreements signed by the two countries’ leaders, as well as the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across all pillars.

Receiving the ambassador in Hanoi on March 13, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also stressed that Vietnam is actively reviewing import tariffs on goods from the U.S. and encouraging increased imports of U.S. products that Vietnam has demand for, especially agricultural products, LNG, and high-tech products

Vietnam is actively addressing the current concerns of the U.S. regarding bilateral investment and trade relations, he said.

During his recent visit to the U.S., Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien held a working session with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

"A consistent policy of Vietnam is to develop a sustainable, stable, harmonious trade with the United States for win-win outcomes. Vietnam does not have any intentions of making any challenges to unilaterally hurt American economy and laborers," Dien told Greer.

The Vietnamese government is implementing various solutions to boost the trade-investment ties with the United States, the minister stressed.

U.S and Vietnamese energy companies on March 13 signed agreements worth $4.15 billion during a working trip of Vietnamese Special Envoy of the Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien to the United States.

At a meeting with Ambassador Marc Knapper in Hanoi on March 26, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy said agricultural products of the two countries complement each other and do not compete, and that Vietnam is ready to open its market to U.S. agricultural products.