Viet Nam, US aim to swiftly conclude negotiations and sign reciprocal trade agreement

On July 13, at the Government Office, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung received Jennifer Wicks, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the US to Viet Nam, in a courtesy call marking the start of the Ambassador's term in Viet Nam.

The PM affirmed that Viet Nam consistently regards the US as one of its most important partners, and supports the US playing an active role for peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world. Viet Nam wishes to work with the US to bring the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to new heights for the benefit of the people of both countries.

The PM asked the Ambassador and the Embassy to promote their role as a bridge, advance high-level exchanges of delegations, and coordinate with Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities to translate cooperation into concrete, substantive outcomes. He also called for candid discussion of remaining differences in a spirit of mutual respect, so that outstanding issues do not affect the overall momentum of the relationship.

PM Le Minh Hung said the two sides need to promote economic and trade cooperation in a harmonious, sustainable and mutually beneficial direction; urgently resolve outstanding obstacles; and swiftly complete negotiations and sign a reciprocal, fair and balanced trade agreement, thereby creating a stable framework for businesses of both countries to expand investment, production and business operations.

The PM affirmed that Viet Nam is stepping up administrative procedure reform and improving its legal system to be more transparent and modern, creating more favorable conditions for US businesses, and stands ready to listen to and address the legitimate concerns of businesses.

On defense and security, the PM proposed that the two sides promote cooperation in law enforcement, humanitarian relief, cybersecurity, and combating transnational crime.

The PM thanked the US for its support in addressing the aftermath of war, and asked the US to continue assisting with dioxin remediation, mine and unexploded ordnance clearance, and support for people with disabilities, as well as sharing records, documentation and DNA identification technology to help search for and identify the remains of fallen soldiers. He affirmed Viet Nam's commitment to continuing the search for US military personnel missing in action from the war.

The PM also proposed expanding cooperation in science and technology, innovation, human resource development, digital transformation, education and training, and people-to-people exchange between the two countries.

Expressing sincere thanks to the PM for making time to receive her so soon after the start of her term in Viet Nam, Ambassador Jennifer Wicks recalled the honor of being received by General Secretary and President To Lam, and shared his assessment that Viet Nam-US relations have never been as good as they are today.

Ambassador Wicks said the US values its relationship with Viet Nam, and conveyed the message that the US is "proud to be a partner of Viet Nam," along with thanks from President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Viet Nam's senior leadership for their congratulations on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of US independence. She said her current priorities during her term would closely follow President Trump's priorities while also reflecting the shared interests of both countries.

The US Ambassador stressed that economic and trade cooperation remains a top priority during her term. She expressed hope that the two sides would maintain positive exchanges to soon reach a high-standard, reciprocal, fair and balanced trade agreement, thereby creating additional economic and investment opportunities for both countries.

The Ambassador praised the Vietnamese government's efforts to improve its legal environment and business and investment conditions, and affirmed she would work closely with Viet Nam to advance specific cooperation projects and address outstanding issues in a constructive spirit, while expanding cooperation in areas where the two sides have complementary strengths and needs.

On defense and security, Ambassador Wicks said there remains significant room for cooperation in maritime security and law enforcement, as well as in addressing transnational security challenges.

The Ambassador pledged to continue promoting cooperation on addressing the aftermath of war, describing it as an important humanitarian foundation of the bilateral relationship. She expressed hope for expanding programs on dioxin remediation, mine and unexploded ordnance clearance, support for people with disabilities, and the search for and identification of Vietnamese fallen soldiers as well as the repatriation of the remains of US military personnel.

The Ambassador affirmed she would work with relevant US agencies to sustain attention and resources for these programs, while strengthening coordination with Vietnamese ministries and agencies to effectively implement the areas of agreement between the two sides.

Ambassador Jennifer Wicks also stressed the importance of promoting people-to-people exchange, and expressed hope for expanding cooperation in education, science and technology, and innovation to support Viet Nam's development goals under Politburo Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, strengthening ties between US and Vietnamese universities, and working alongside Viet Nam to improve the quality of English language teaching.

Praising the PM's leadership and the Vietnamese government's efforts to advance shared priorities, the Ambassador pledged to be an active partner throughout her term, contributing to the continued development of Viet Nam-US relations in the period ahead.