On the afternoon of March 18, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính held a working session with the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) delegation and approximately 60 major U.S. enterprises visiting and working in Vietnam, led by USABC President and CEO Ted Osius, former U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam.
Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and USABC President and CEO Ted Osius, former U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam – Photo: VGP/Nhật Bắc
With around 60 enterprises, this is the largest delegation ever to visit Vietnam under a USABC-organized program, featuring leading corporations such as Boeing, Apple, Intel, Coca-Cola, Nike, Amazon, Bell Textron, and Excelerate Energy.
Welcoming the USABC delegation and U.S. businesses to Vietnam on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 2nd anniversary of upgrading relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership—with a longer-term vision, larger scale, deeper engagement, and higher quality and effectiveness—the Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam considers the U.S. a top strategic partner, especially in economic, trade, and investment cooperation.
The Prime Minister noted that Vietnam-U.S. bilateral relations have seen remarkable progress in recent times, yet U.S. investment in Vietnam still has substantial growth potential. The two economies complement and support each other rather than compete.
Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính meets with USABC and approximately 60 major U.S. enterprises visiting and working in Vietnam – Photo: VGP/Nhật Bắc
USABC leaders and U.S. enterprises expressed their delight at the progress in Vietnam-U.S. relations. They highly praised Vietnam’s economic achievements, vast development potential, and favorable investment environment. They particularly appreciated the Vietnamese government and the Prime Minister’s personal attention in facilitating, supporting, and resolving difficulties for businesses, including U.S. enterprises, investing and growing effectively in Vietnam.
Recognizing Vietnam’s socio-economic development strategy—especially its focus on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation following the recent adoption of Resolution 57-NQ/TW—U.S. businesses expressed their desire and readiness to invest and expand their presence in Vietnam in key sectors such as green transition, digital transformation, circular economy, energy, high technology, semiconductors, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, data, aviation, logistics, finance, telecommunications, healthcare, food processing, consumer goods manufacturing, tourism, education, and agriculture.
The Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam considers the U.S. a top strategic partner, especially in economic, trade, and investment cooperation – Photo: VGP/Nhật Bắc
U.S. businesses hope that Vietnam will continue to reform administrative procedures, shorten decision-making times, ensure consistency and stability in legal regulations, and implement incentive policies to encourage investment in specific projects and products where the U.S. has strengths and Vietnam has demand, with a priority on attracting and developing these sectors.
After discussing and addressing the specific proposals and recommendations from USABC and U.S. businesses alongside leaders of Vietnamese ministries and agencies, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the insights shared by USABC leaders and businesses. He affirmed that the specific proposals and recommendations from USABC had been acknowledged and addressed, with Vietnamese ministries and agencies continuing to study them and provide responses to businesses promptly. He expressed confidence that Vietnam-U.S. investment cooperation will see new developments in the future across all fields, particularly in new growth drivers aligned with each country’s trends and development strategies.
The Prime Minister stated that Vietnam desires and is actively working to promote a balanced, harmonious, and sustainable economic and trade relationship with the U.S. through concrete action programs. These efforts aim to help realize the aforementioned objectives while simultaneously improving the quality and effectiveness of investment cooperation with the U.S.
The Prime Minister hopes that US investors will continue to increase new investments and expand investment in Vietnam – Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
The Prime Minister recently held a working session with U.S. businesses to listen to their concerns and directed ministries and agencies to promptly and decisively address the current issues raised by the U.S. side with clear and effective results. He emphasized supporting and accompanying U.S. businesses to help concretize the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, following the principle of “harmonized interests, shared risks.”
Vietnamese ministries and relevant agencies are actively reviewing import tariff schedules for goods from the U.S., encouraging increased imports of U.S. key products that align with Vietnam’s needs, particularly agricultural products, liquefied natural gas, and high-tech products, while also ensuring strict control over the origins of imported goods.
Recognizing that U.S. business investment trends align with Vietnam’s development strategy, the Prime Minister expressed his hope that U.S. investors will continue to expand their investments in Vietnam, especially in key sectors such as energy, high technology, semiconductors, AI, aviation, aerospace, and climate change mitigation.
USABC President and CEO Ted Osius, former US Ambassador to Vietnam, speaks at the meeting – Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
Additionally, efforts are being made to strengthen business connections between the two countries, enhance dialogue mechanisms between the government and the business community, and establish regular business linkages. The goal is to enable Vietnamese enterprises to integrate more deeply into the global supply chains of U.S. companies, positioning Vietnam as a key production and business hub for the U.S. in Southeast Asia. This is driven by the principle that “commitments must be fulfilled, actions must yield measurable results.”
Expressing a desire for U.S. businesses to continue advising and providing policy recommendations to the Vietnamese government for institutional and policy improvements, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính called on U.S. companies to advocate with President Donald Trump’s administration to strengthen sustainable economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two nations. He also urged consideration of a new bilateral trade framework that better aligns with current needs and realities, the avoidance of trade defense measures against Vietnam, early recognition of Vietnam’s market economy status, and the removal of Vietnam from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s high-tech export restrictions list.
US businesses hope that Vietnam will continue to reform administrative procedures; shorten decision-making time… – Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
The head of the government called for both sides to strengthen cooperation in science and technology, innovation, and high-quality investment. He emphasized the need to promote the transfer of advanced technologies and support human resource training in Vietnam. He also encouraged knowledge-sharing, policy recommendations, and support for Vietnam’s energy development. Furthermore, he proposed U.S. participation in Vietnam’s railway, aviation, waterway, maritime, and road infrastructure projects, including studying the establishment of aircraft maintenance and repair centers at Long Thành International Airport and Gia Bình Airport.
Additionally, U.S. businesses were encouraged to collaborate with Vietnam in building and developing a modern, synchronized digital infrastructure, commercializing 5G networks, and researching 6G technology. They were also urged to enhance capabilities and transfer technology in the production of medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines. Special attention was given to investment in high-tech agriculture, particularly in projects such as the sustainable development plan for one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice in the Mekong Delta. The U.S. side was also encouraged to support Vietnamese businesses and farmers in connecting production facilities with consumer markets and integrating deeply into U.S. and global supply chains and retail networks.
Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính met with the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) delegation and approximately 60 major U.S. enterprises currently visiting and working in Vietnam – Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
Emphasizing the vast potential for economic, trade, and investment cooperation between Vietnam and the United States, the Prime Minister expressed his hope that following the visit of the USABC and U.S. businesses, the connection between enterprises from both countries will be further strengthened and more effective. This will benefit both sides and contribute to fostering a stronger, more effective, and increasingly positive Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the United States in the future.
Source: Hà Văn – baochinhphu.vn