The State of Nebraska is committed to assisting Vietnam in the development of high-tech agriculture and livestock, particularly in technology transfer, as well as the country's efforts to address climate change.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Governor Jim Pillen of the State of Nebraska. Photo: Nhat Bac/VGP

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen made the pledge during a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on July 13.

At the meeting, the Prime Minister extended a warm welcome to Pillen, who chose Vietnam for his first foreign trip as Nebraska's governor.

"Vietnam considers the US one of its most important partners and looks forward to strengthening the bilateral comprehensive partnership, with special emphasis on local cooperation and people-to-people exchanges," Chinh said.

He highly appreciated Nebraska's keen interest in enhancing cooperation with Vietnam. To deepen Vietnam-Nebraska ties, the Prime Minister called on the state's leaders and agencies to strengthen their delegation exchanges with Vietnamese localities and play a key role as a bridge in the development of Vietnam-US relations.

The Prime Minister said the two sides should continue to exchange development experiences in the future, with special emphasis on strengthening economic, trade and investment cooperation.

This should include a focus on the exchange of robust agricultural products, as well as fostering cooperation in other potential areas such as education, science and technology, innovation, high technology, finance and banking, and climate change response.

In addition, Chinh called for further people-to-people exchanges and for creating favorable conditions in Nebraska for the dynamic and creative Vietnamese community living in the state. This would include encouraging their further integration, compliance with local laws, and contribution to the development of Vietnam's relations with the US and the State of Nebraska.

Governor Jim Pillen thanked Prime Minister Chinh for the warm welcome and expressed his pleasure to visit the resilient and hospitable Vietnam.

Recognizing Vietnam's impressive growth rate and its advantages, such as a young, dynamic and hard-working population, the Governor reiterated the State of Nebraska's intention to strengthen and expand its relationship with Vietnam, especially with Vietnamese localities, as highlighted by the Prime Minister.

Pillen told the Prime Minister that Nebraska had increased its exports of key agricultural products to Vietnam, including corn, soybeans, beef, and other dry grain products.

He also mentioned that a State Economic Development Department delegation had recently visited Vietnam in January 2023 to discuss expanding cooperation in education, training, and science and technology.

The governor praised the Vietnamese government's focus on developing high-tech agriculture and animal husbandry in the future. He pledged that the State of Nebraska would assist Vietnam in these areas, particularly in technology transfer.

Pillen also admired Vietnam's commitment and efforts to address climate change. He noted that this is an area in which Nebraska has considerable expertise and expressed his desire to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in this area.

Both sides recognized that there are significant opportunities for further cooperation and that it is important to continue to foster relationships between Nebraska and Vietnam as a whole, as well as with various Vietnamese localities.