Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception in Hanoi on April 25 for US Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack, during which he hoped the US would step up activities to support Vietnam in agricultural production and climate change response.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and US Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack.

The Government leader spoke highly of the outcomes of the secretary’s talks with Vietnamese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat, where they agreed to boost bilateral trade in agriculture, fishery and forestry.

He told the guest that agriculture holds a big proportion in the country’s economic structure with more than half of the population involved in this field. As such, Vietnam wishes to receive the US’s assistance in improving food quarantine and cleaner production.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked the US to license the import of Vietnamese mangos and starfruit soon, and continue supporting the export of Vietnam’s tra and basa fish to the US market.

The Vietnamese Government had submitted the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement to the National Assembly for ratification, he said, believing that the agreement, once effective, will facilitate the two countries’ cooperation programmes and projects in all areas.

He also conveyed a message that the Vietnamese Government and people are expecting to welcome US President Barack Obama to Vietnam in May.

For his part, the guest said he was impressed by Vietnam’s current socio-economic development achievements.

Sharing his sympathy with the great losses caused by drought and saltwater, he affirmed that his country is willing to send experts to Vietnam to exchange experience in adapting to climate change and dealing with drought and saline intrusion.

The US is willing to help Vietnam increase the efficiency of its climate change response activities, he added.

Thomas Vilsack continued by saying that the US will create favourable conditions to expand its market for Vietnamese agricultural products.

He suggested both sides study to remove more trade barriers in order to improve the effectiveness of the bilateral comprehensive cooperation.

VNA