Vietnam regards the US as its leading important trade and investment partner, President Tran Dai Quang said in a meeting with representatives of more than 60 US enterprises in central Da Nang city on November 8. 

President Tran Dai Quang (second, right) meets with representatives of more than 60 US enterprises in Da Nang city on November 8

The meeting was jointly held by the US-APEC Business Coalition (USABC) and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) within the framework of the ongoing APEC Economic Leaders’ Week. 

The President said the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership has been developing fruitfully, adding that recent visits by high-ranking leaders have reflected the significance of the bilateral relationship, for the sake of the two countries, and for peace, stability and cooperation in the region and the world at large. 

Trade and investment cooperation has become a foundation and driving force for bilateral ties, he noted, saying the US is now a leading trade partner and the 7th biggest foreign investor in Vietnam.

Vietnam welcomes President Donald Trump’s attendance at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and his State visit to the country, President Quang said, adding this is the first time a US President has visited Vietnam in the first year of his term. 

President Trump’s selection of Vietnam as his first destination in Southeast Asia is of significance to the bilateral relationship and carry the US’s message of policy towards Asia-Pacific, he said. 

President Quang lauded the participation of many leading US groups specialising in information-technology, pharmacy, food, health care and high-tech in APEC activities since the beginning of this year. 

Welcoming US businesses investing in the fields of high-tech, energy and infrastructure in Vietnam, the President suggested the USABC continue to seeking effective, long-term, mutually-beneficial business opportunities in the country and serve as a bridge for US firms to operate in the Southeast Asian nation. 

He also called on the USABC to urge the US Government to soon recognize Vietnam’s market economy, and enhance trade and investment links with Vietnam. 

Vietnam has paid heed to infrastructure development such as airports, seaports and roads and has invested in high-tech to meet requirements of the fourth industrial revolution, he added.

At the meeting, representatives of US firms praised Vietnam’s thorough preparations for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week as well as the country’s efforts to create a favourable business environment for US enterprises. 

The USABC affirmed that US firms will contribute more to the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership in the time ahead.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosts Asia-Pacific investors

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) meets investors

The investors spoke highly of Vietnam’s socio-economic development, which was reflected through its improved places on the business environment rankings of the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the World Bank (WB), and promised to invest in Vietnam in the form of direct investment and share purchase.

They cared about Vietnam’s non-tariff measures, stressing that there remain a lot of procedures and shortcomings which need to be improved.

The investors proposed the Vietnamese Government develop clean energy and facilitate cooperation in tourism development as Vietnam becomes more attractive in the eyes of international friends.

In the context of the fourth industrial revolution, Vietnam should develop a digital economy and foster innovation by paying due attention to young people and entrepreneurs who are a promising force for the Vietnamese economy in the future, they suggested.

Acknowledging the proposals, PM Phuc affirmed that he will continue working to build a constructive and action-oriented government to serve the people and enterprises.

For the ideas that can be tackled immediately, he promised to assign relevant agencies to soon solve them such as removing unnecessary procedures to facilitate import-export activities, promoting Vietnamese goods abroad, and carrying out measures to attract more foreign visitors.

VNA