The Voice of America (VOA) quoted PM Dung as saying after talks with President Bush at the White House that the US and Vietnam are building a constructive and friendly partnership on the basis of mutual benefit

The two leaders discussed issues relating to expansion of bilateral trade, investment as well as cooperation in other areas.

The Radio France International (RFI) reported that since the bilateral trade agreement came into effect in December 2001, US-Vietnam trade significantly increased to US$12 billion in 2007, with the balance in favour of Vietnam.

The US is Vietnam’s largest export market while Vietnam has become a magnet for American businesses and goods. A mission of 23 American leading groups in finance, energy, aviation, information technology, which visited Vietnam last May to seek investment and business opportunities was evidence of their strong investment interest.

The BBC said PM Dung focused on economic-related issues on his first day in the US. The Vietnamese PM met with the Secretary of Wisconsin Department of Administration, former foreign minister Madeleine Albright, and attended a meeting with the Vietnam-US Consulting Council for Strengthening Competitive Capacity.

PM Dung also met with former US Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and the Secretary of Finance Henry Paulson. During the meetings, PM Dung spoke about Vietnam’s current economic situation and expressed hope to learn experience in solving economic development issues, macro economic management and inflation control from other countries, including the US.

US and foreign agencies cited PM Dung’s statement at a ceremony for the signing of agreements and trade contracts between the two countries before meeting with President Bush at the White House. The PM said Vietnam will improve the investment climate, including legal institutions, administrative procedures, socio-economic infrastructure and human resource development, in order to create a more transparent, liberal and favourable investment-business-trade environment for foreign investors, including the US.

US Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez said that US businesses attending the signing ceremony will meet Vietnam’s demands on telecommunication, port development, consumer goods, mining, aviation and software development. Of the signed contracts, there are agreements on supply of labourers for the US market, according to foreign media.