President Truong Tan Sang urged the US government to grant Vietnam status as a market economy, while receiving US Trade Representative Ronald Kirk in Hanoi on September 3. 

 

The country is seeking recognition as a market economy to benefit from the removal of trade and investment restrictions.

Sang said Vietnam always attachs importance to relations with the United States and welcomes the new development in bilateral ties.

He emphasized that the two countries should bring relations to a new height on the basis of respect for independence, sovereignty and the territorial integrity of each nation, for peace, stability and cooperation across the region.

Sang spoke highly of the role of the Office of the United States Trade Representative in consolidating relations between the two countries, particularly in the fields of economics, trade and investment.

He called on American businesses to boost investment in Vietnam.

The US trade representative said cooperation in economics and trade and is a priority in the Asia-Pacific policy of US President Barack Obama.

Kirk affirmed that the US government also wants to see stronger development in bilateral relations between Vietnam and the Unites States.

He expressed his wish that the two countries, along with other parties, would complete negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement soon.

On the same day, Kirk also held talks with Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh, which mainly focused on the TPP negotiations.

VNS