Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue has applauded contributions of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to Vietnam’s socio-economic development as well as national management.

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue (R) and USAID Director Michael Greene

At a reception for Michael Greene, USAID Director, in Hanoi on December 7, the Deputy PM highlighted the agency’s humanitarian aid to Vietnamese Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims and dioxin remediation in the country, along with its projects on HIV/AIDS prevention, climate change response and settlement of natural disaster and post-war consequences. 

Michael Greene said the USAID has cooperated with Vietnam for many years, through projects that provide technical support in the fields of national management and economic development.

The agency is designing two projects worth more than 50 million USD in non-refundable aid, aiming to help Vietnam implement a programme on trade facilitation and supporting Vietnamese small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to participate in the global supply chain, he noted. 

In this regard, Deputy PM Hue stressed the Vietnamese Government’s consistent policy of strongly improving the domestic business environment, which has jumped 23 places over the past two years. 

He urged experts and officials of the USAID to team up with officials of the Vietnamese Ministry of Finance to identify contents of the USAID-funded project. 

The Vietnamese Government also wishes to promote the private economic sector, connect SMEs together as well as Vietnamese firms with their foreign counterparts, Hue said. 

He said the Ministry of Planning and Investment will be assigned to develop a framework for the aforementioned project. 

The projects selected by the USAID are suitable with Vietnam’s current needs, Hue said, adding that the Vietnamese Government welcomes and will assign relevant ministries and agencies to implement the project effectively.

Deputy PM receives US int’l relief organisation’s President

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh hosted a reception for visiting President and CEO of the Samaritan’s Purse International Relief (SPIR) of the US, Pastor Franklin Graham in Hanoi on December 7.

During the meeting, the Vietnamese leader stressed that Vietnam always respects and promotes human rights, including rights to belief and religion freedom, adding that Vietnam is a multi-religious country and Vietnamese people’s beliefs are diverse. 

Non-governmental organisations, including SPIR, have supported Vietnam in implementing charitable projects on education and water supply, which have been benefiting children and poor people, he said.  

He expressed his hope that Graham, with his influence and credibility, will contribute to promoting the Vietnam-US relationship in general and their cooperation and dialogue on belief and religion-related issues in particular, and increase humanitarian activities in Vietnam as well.

For his part, Pastor Graham spoke highly of Vietnam’s policies on ensuring rights to belief and religion freedom. 

He affirmed his organisation will continue its humanitarian assistance for Vietnam and promote cooperation and dialogue on beliefs and religions between the two nations, contributing to further strengthening the bilateral relations.

VNA