Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Positive dialogues will promote mutual understanding and help create mechanisms to narrow differences between Viet Nam and the US , State President Nguyen Minh Triet said.

President Triet made the remarks while talking with Steny Hoyer, the United States House of Representatives Majority Leader, and Roy Blunt, the House Republican Whip in Ha Noi on January 3.

“There will always be an answer to every question despite of how difficult it is,” President Triet said.

The State leader took the occasion to thank the international community, including the US , for their support to Viet Nam so the country was elected to the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member with an overwhelming vote.

He affirmed that Viet Nam will actively take part in the UN Security Council’s operation with responsibility and efficiency and that it will work for the sake of peace, stability and cooperation for development in Asia and the world.

At the talks, the US congressmen lauded Viet Nam ’s role in promoting bilateral ties, particularly in the search of US soldiers missing in action (MIA), and expressed their hope for further cooperation from Viet Nam in this matter.

They congratulated Viet Nam on its undertaking of the UN Security Council seat, saying that the country will surely play an active role in international issues.

Both host and guests agreed that the two countries’ ties have recently been growing with more frequent high-level discussions, surging trade and investment, and cooperation in humanitarian issues, education and healthcare.

On the day, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong gave a reception to the US congressmen at which he described the guests’ visit as the manifestation of one more positive progress in the two legislative bodies’ relationship.

NA Chairman Trong and representatives of NA committees discussed with the guests the issues of mutual concern, including Viet Nam ’s role in settling peace and international security-related issues as a UN Security Council non-permanent member, intellectual property rights and environmental protection.

The US congressmen later met with Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai who briefed them on Viet Nam ’s international integration process, affirming the country’s awareness on the diversification of energy sources, especially the use of alternative sources and its effective usage, and the protection of intellectual property rights. VNA

HCM City places importance to economic ties with US

Ho Chi Minh City always attached importance to economic cooperation and trade with the US and hoped that US business continue with their investment in the city, said Pham Phuong Thao, Chairperson of HCM City People’s Council.

Mme Thao was receiving the visiting delegation of the United States House of Representatives, led by Steny Hoyer, the House Democrat Leader, and Roy Blunt, the House Republican Whip in HCM City on January 4.

Thao said she hoped that the US delegation’s current visit would contribute to promoting mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries and briefed the US Congressmen of the city’s socio-economic situation.

She praised contributions by more than 400 US companies in HCM City to the city’s spectacular development and called for more US investment in infrastructure, transport, environmental protection, education, health care, high-tech and human resource development.

The American guests highly appreciated the impressive economic development step made by Viet Nam in general and HCM City in particular, as well as the city’s efforts to overcome challenges in socio-economic development over the recent past.

The US Congressmen also expressed their hope that the city would continue promoting reforms, especially administrative reform, renewal of investment procedures to create a better environment for businesses.

The same day, the US House delegation met with the US business community in HCM City and made a sightseeing tour of the city.VNA