A delegation of US businesspeople, led by Ambassador to the Republic of Singapore Patricia L.Herbold, had working sessions with Vietnamese government senior officials on May 8, the second day of its 4-day working visit to Vietnam.

At the meetings with Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Dy Nien, Vice Minister of Trade Phan The Rue, and Vice Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Bich Dat, the US businesspeople showed their special interest in Vietnam's socio-economic achievements, State policies and investment and business environment.

They expressed their strong support for Vietnam's bid to join the World Trade Organisation, committing themselves to lobbying the US congress to grant the country the Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status.