Socialist Republic of Vietnam

New York, June 11 (VNA) -- U.S. Ambassador to Viet Nam Raymond F. Burghardt, has lauded Viet Nam's economic renewal at a dialogue with U.S. ambassadors to Southeast Asian countries.

At a meeting in New York on June 10, Mr.Burghardt stated that Viet Nam's economy has seen significant changes since the country implemented the national renewal process in 1986.

He elaborated that Viet Nam has become the world's second biggest exporter of rice and coffee, attributing this to effective reforms in the agricultural sector.

Viet Nam has made progress in economic renewal, which finds vivid manifestation in the recent signing of agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank (WB), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as well as bilateral trade agreements (BTAs), including that with the U.S., the Ambassador noted.

He added the BTAs would provide a basis for Viet Nam's joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Answering a Vietnam News Agency (VNA) correspondent on Viet Nam's catfish sales to the U.S., Ambassador Burghardt said though problems remained in the trademark, the export volume has increased. He added that the U.S. would continue being a major market for Viet Nam's seafood products.

The dialogue with the theme of building economic relations in Southeast Asia, was held by the Asian Association and several U.S. firms. It brought together U.S. ambassadors to Southeast Asian ccuntries and around 100 representatives from companies and the diplomatic corps in New York.--Enditem