US remains a top trading partner for Vietnam, says trade minister
VOV.VN - The United States is among the top trading partners, and at the same time one of the world’s leading export markets for Vietnam, affirmed Industry and Trade Minister Nguyen Hong Dien.
The effective and substantial cooperation between the two countries was resulted from the two governments’ strategic vision and the active coordination as well as effective implementation of their relevant agencies, including the United States Trade Representative (USTR), Dien recently told USTR representative Katherine Tai, who was in Hanoi for a working visit to Vietnam.
Dien emphasized there is great potential for enhancing bilateral cooperation in the fields of climate change response, energy transformation, digital transformation and green growth.
Vietnam supports efforts to deepen bilateral relations, as well as multilateral cooperation mechanisms and initiatives led by the US which are beneficial to ensuring peace, stability and development regionally and globally, including within the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), he said.
The minister suggested that USTR continue to promote its role as an important bridge between the two Governments to help strengthen the Vietnam - US Comprehensive Partnership.
He also suggested that the US soon realize its commitments to support Vietnam and other countries in implementing international agreements on climate change response, including the declaration on a Just Energy Transition Partnership.
Vietnam is ready to coordinate with the United States to successfully organize the APEC Year 2023, he assured his guest.
Both host and guest acknowledged the sound Vietnam – US trade performance in recent times, with their two-way trade turnover reaching more than US$123 billion last year, up 11% year on year.
They examined cooperation between the two countries within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), sub-regional cooperation, cooperation in climate change response, energy transition, and digital transformation among others.
The two sides emphasized the significance of promoting free, open, fair trade based on international law and sustainable and inclusive growth in the region, in which ASEAN countries play a central role.
Katherine Tai for her part affirmed that bilateral trade has been promoted, especially since September 2020. She revealed in 2023, the US will cooperate more closely with Vietnam in the field of e-commerce alongside existing fields.
The US Government’s current major priority is to promote trade recovery and economic growth in a sustainable, resilient and inclusive manner on the back of lessons learned from the recent COVID-19 pandemic response, she emphasized.
Accordingly, she said the US focuses on strengthening partnerships with countries in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions, and at the same time ensuring benefits for local people and workers.
The US will give priority to promoting cooperation frameworks to build an efficient and sustainable economic and investment ecosystem, thereby creating a new impetus for the development of the regional economy, she said.
Katherine Tai briefed her host on the US’ preparations for hosting the APEC Year 2023 and the connotation of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, in order to build trust among partners, enhance digital technology transfer, prevent unfair trade activities, and strengthen digital trade recovery for countries in the region.