Vietnam is among the key partners of the US in the Asia-Pacific, said US Trade Presentative Katherine Tai at a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on February 14.

Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (right) meets the US Trade Representative Katherine Tai on February 14. Photo: VGP

Katherine Tai said that the US hopes to bolster bilateral economic and trade relations with Vietnam.

Stronger bilateral relations will enhance discussions on labor, environmental protection, e-commerce, agriculture, and intellectual property, she added.

Tai said that the self-reliance of Vietnam and its people is impressive, praying it is one of the key factors to facilitate the country’s strong socioeconomic growth.

She also believed that the two nations' cooperation will reach new heights, saying her positive working sessions with Vietnamese agencies strengthened mutual understanding and foster a bilateral relationship in the future.

At the meeting, Tai spoke of the US plan to prepare for and host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 2023 (2023).

The APEC 2023 forum will focus on high-quality investment, the development of self-reliant supply chains in the region, and economic sustainability, she said.

The event will also be a place for participating nations to resolve common issues and seize new opportunities for further development, she said.

In his part, PM Chinh affirmed that Vietnam hopes to improve its comprehensive partnership with the US on the basis of respecting each other's independence, sovereignty, national unity, and political stability.

He expected the Vietnam-US relations will contribute to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

The Vietnamese Prime Minister urged the two governments and agencies of the two countries to boost cooperation in economy, trade, and investment, particularly in such potential fields as digital transformation, green transition, sustainable agriculture, energy transition, and environmental protection.

He said that Vietnam and the US should work together to resolve existing issues on the basis of respecting fairness, equality, and mutual benefit.

In terms of multilateral cooperation, PM Chinh spoke highly of the US efforts to host the APEC 2023, adding Vietnam is willing to work with the US and other APEC member states to make the event successful.

The leader of the Vietnamese Government also shared several socioeconomic achievements made in recent years, reaffirming that Vietnam strives to be an independent and self-reliant country.

He also said that Vietnam hopes to build multilateral relations with other nations and become a responsible, active member state of the international community.

Vietnam and the US have recorded a strong economic relationship in recent years. In 2022, two-way trade turnover increased by 11% on-year to US$123 billion. The US is now the second-largest trade partner and the biggest export market to Vietnam. Key Vietnamese exports to the US include machines and electronic devices, steel and iron products, textile and garments, wood and wooden products, and aquatic outputs.