US Trade Representative Ronald Kirk's visit to Vietnam
President Truong Tan Sang urged the US government to recognise Vietnam as a market economy while receiving US Trade Representative Ronald Kirk in Hanoi on September 3.
Sang further said Vietnam always attaches importance to relations with the United States and welcomed the developments in bilateral ties.
He emphasised that the two countries should bring bilateral relations to a new height on the basis of equality and respect for independence, sovereignty and the territorial integrity of each nation, and for the sake of peace, stability and cooperation across the region.
Sang spoke highly of the role of the Office of the United States Trade Representative in consolidating relations between the two countries, particularly in the fields of economics, trade and investment.
He called for American businesses to boost investment in Vietnam .
The US trade representative said cooperation in economics, trade and investment was among the main components in the Asia-Pacific policy of US President Barack Obama.
Kirk affirmed that the US government also wishes to see stronger development in bilateral relations between Vietnam and the United States .
He expressed his wish that the two countries, along with other parties, would complete negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) soon.
The same day, Kirk also held talks with Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh focusing on the TPP negotiations.
Vietnam attaches great importance to its admission to TPP, which, Ninh said, is not only a big challenge but also an opportunity for Vietnam to develop goods trade in international market, helping the country grasp and make better use of opportunities of international cooperation to serve its socio-economic development strategy and international integration.
He said he hopes the US will pay attention to a number of conditions and Vietnam’s economic situation to have suitable policies in the TPP negotiations.
Kirk underscored impressive development of bilateral trade cooperative relations, adding that Vietnam has made important progress in the 13th round of TPP negotiation.
He said he hopes Vietnam would further strengthen trade policy and become an official member of the TPP by 2013.-VNA
