The US pays great attention to Hanoi’s policies that fulfill Vietnam’s commitments made at the COP26 summit on climate change, said US Embassy’s Economic Counselor Lynne Gadkowski at a meeting with Hanoi Deputy Mayor Nguyen Manh Quyen in the capital city on January 20.

She affirmed the US’s support for Hanoi’s recent deployment of environmentally friendly public transportation and emphasized American companies long for the full reopening of the city after the pandemic.

Quyen said the city will achieve this goal step by step in line with the Government's scheme to meet Vietnam's COP26 commitment.

Recently, the city’s first electric buses have hit the road, "On the route, there will be 50 Vinfast electric buses operating," he said, adding that the city is currently promoting the use of clean energy in all aspects of city life and will soon pilot electric bike-sharing scheme.  

Counselor Lynne thanked Hanoi’s government for supporting American enterprises operating in the city, noting that it will create momentum for Hanoi and the US’s localities to promote trade cooperation.

Quyen said that Hanoi always attaches great importance to promoting trade with foreign companies, including American ones. "Hanoi welcomes US investors to operate in the city and hopes to create an effective investment environment here, a drive that needs the support of the US embassy in Vietnam to succeed."

At the meeting, Matt Moore, the head of the Global Health Protection program for CDC Vietnam, said the organization has cooperated with Vietnam since the first outbreak of the pandemic. 

The reopening of socio-educational activities and economic recovery are interrelated, he said, while reaffirming the US CDC's readiness to support Hanoi in this process through sharing US experience in Covid-19 vaccination for children.

For his part, Quyen agreed with the US officials' suggestion, saying Hanoi’s authorities over the past two years have adopted numerous solutions to control the pandemic with great support from the US CDC.

"So far, almost all Hanoians aged 12 and over have received the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine," Quyen briefed the guests.

On school reopening, Quyen said that Hanoi has a plan in this regard, however, returning to school safely should be the first priority.