On January 7, at the Central Party Headquarters, General Secretary To Lam met with Nicholas Berggruen, founder and chairman of Berggruen Holdings and the Berggruen Institute, and Nguyen Thi Lien Hang, director of the Weatherhead East Asian Institute at Columbia University in the United States.

Advancing Vietnam-U.S. relations

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General Secretary To Lam meets Nicholas Berggruen, founder of Berggruen Holdings. (Photo: Thong Nhat/TTXVN)

General Secretary To Lam commended Nicholas Berggruen and Nguyen Thi Lien Hang for their support in fostering the Vietnam-U.S. relationship.

He highlighted the substantive and effective development of the Vietnam-U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, noting the critical contributions of businesses, scholars, and citizens of both countries.

He encouraged Berggruen and Hang to continue exploring new investment and research opportunities in Vietnam and to effectively implement existing cooperative agreements between Columbia University and Vietnamese universities.

As Vietnam enters a new era of development, General Secretary To Lam stressed the nation’s goal of becoming a high middle-income country by 2030 and a developed, high-income country by 2045.

To achieve this, Vietnam is steadfast in its pursuit of an independent, self-reliant economy with deep international integration.

Innovation, high-quality human resources, and advancements in science and technology are deemed strategic breakthroughs that will enhance the nation's competitiveness and foster sustainable development.

He reiterated Vietnam's commitment to creating favorable conditions for foreign investors, including those from the U.S., while emphasizing the importance of education, cultural exchange, and people-to-people connections.

Nicholas Berggruen and Nguyen Thi Lien Hang expressed their appreciation for Vietnam’s achievements and the positive trajectory of Vietnam-U.S. relations.

Berggruen applauded the leadership and vision of Vietnam’s leaders, pledging to support efforts to strengthen ties between the two countries and explore opportunities for meaningful investment.

Prime Minister’s engagement with Nicholas Berggruen

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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives Nicholas Berggruen at the Government Headquarters. (Photo: Duong Giang/TTXVN)

Later that evening, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also met with Berggruen and Hang at the Government Headquarters.

Prime Minister Chinh praised Hang for her active involvement in recent high-level policy dialogues between Vietnam and the U.S.

He emphasized Vietnam's progress, achieved despite the hardships of war and economic sanctions during the 20th century.

Vietnam’s development is guided by three pillars: a socialist-oriented democracy, a rule-of-law state, and a socialist-oriented market economy.

These principles prioritize the people as the center, driver, and ultimate goal of development, ensuring that social equity, progress, and environmental sustainability are not compromised for economic growth.

The Prime Minister noted Vietnam’s remarkable economic and social achievements, including a 7% GDP growth in 2024, bringing the economy's scale to approximately $470 billion.

Vietnam also achieved a trade surplus of $24 billion and attracted $40 billion in foreign direct investment, ranking among the top 15 developing countries for FDI inflows.

Strengthening education and cultural ties

Prime Minister Chinh highlighted the pivotal role of education in Vietnam-U.S. relations, with a growing number of Vietnamese students pursuing studies in the U.S.

He encouraged Berggruen Holdings to consider investing in cultural and historical projects that promote Vietnamese culture internationally and support the development of the cultural industries.

In response, Nicholas Berggruen expressed admiration for Vietnam's resilience and growth, committing to collaborate on training initiatives and strategic investments.

Berggruen proposed establishing a development fund to align with Vietnam’s mission of improving the well-being of its people, a goal defined by the Communist Party of Vietnam.

TTXVN