Prime Minister Le Minh Hung reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to deepening economic and trade ties with the United States during a meeting with Ambassador Rick Switzer.

Vietnam hopes to soon conclude a reciprocal trade agreement with the United States as both countries seek to strengthen strategic economic cooperation.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung said Vietnam remains committed to creating favorable conditions for U.S. businesses to expand investment and operations in the country.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung on the morning of May 20 received Ambassador Rick Switzer, Deputy United States Trade Representative, during his working visit to Vietnam.

The Prime Minister highly appreciated the achievements in Vietnam-U.S. cooperation in recent years across politics, diplomacy, trade and investment, security and defense, science and technology, innovation, as well as coordination on regional and international issues of shared concern.

He expressed hope that both sides would continue close coordination to further advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in a deeper and more substantive manner, bringing practical benefits to the people of both countries while contributing to peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region and the world, in line with the direction set by Party General Secretary and President To Lam and U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Prime Minister welcomed the positive progress achieved in negotiations on a reciprocal, fair and balanced Vietnam-U.S. trade agreement, while praising the role of the Office of the United States Trade Representative and Ambassador Switzer personally.

Vietnam’s Government will continue working closely with the U.S. side to finalize the agreement at an early date, thereby further deepening economic, trade and investment cooperation, which serves as a key driver of bilateral relations, he said.

The Prime Minister stressed that the Vietnamese Government always welcomes and stands ready to create the most favorable conditions for U.S. enterprises to continue expanding successful and effective investment and business operations in Vietnam, contributing to the country’s development goals.

He affirmed that Vietnam does not pursue policies that create excess industrial capacity and that Vietnamese enterprises operate under market mechanisms.

The two economies are complementary rather than directly competitive, he added.

Vietnamese law strictly prohibits all forms of forced labor.

Vietnam has actively participated in and implemented international commitments related to labor standards, including conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and free trade agreements (FTAs).

Vietnam is also firmly committed to combating and strictly handling violations involving intellectual property rights, which the Prime Minister described as a national priority linked to the country’s development model transformation and the implementation of Resolution 57 on breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation and digital transformation.

Ambassador Switzer said he was honored and grateful for the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, and conveyed congratulations from President Donald Trump and senior U.S. leaders on the Prime Minister’s appointment to his new position.

He praised the positive developments in bilateral relations, particularly in economic and trade cooperation, emphasizing that Vietnam is one of the United States’ leading important partners.

Economic and trade ties, he noted, have contributed positively to the overall development of bilateral relations.

Ambassador Switzer underscored the importance of the reciprocal trade agreement to bilateral economic and trade cooperation and highly valued the constructive and cooperative spirit demonstrated by Vietnamese ministries, agencies and the Government negotiation team throughout the process.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative and Ambassador Switzer personally, he said, will continue close coordination with Vietnamese ministries and agencies and make every effort to help both sides reach an agreement soon, contributing to the stronger development of bilateral relations in the future.

Tran Thuong