Representatives of Vietnam and the United States during the second round of negotiations on a bilateral reciprocal trade agreement in Washington D.C. (Photo: MoIT)
The Vietnamese delegation, led by Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, head of the Government negotiation delegation, includes representatives from various ministries and agencies in charge of public security, foreign affairs, finance, construction, home affairs, agriculture, science and technology, justice, and the State Bank.
On the opening day (May 19), both sides engaged in discussions on a comprehensive approach to addressing key issues of mutual concern and advancing the negotiation process.
Talks were conducted in an open, candid, and constructive manner, focusing on clarifying the agreement’s language and exchanging information on each country’s current policies to lay a foundation for future work, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
The second round of negotiations is set to last through to May 22.
Vietnam and the US agreed to conduct negotiations on a reciprocal trade agreement as proposed by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc during his meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington D.C. on April 9.
Phoc, who was paying a visit to the US in his capacity as special envoy of Party General Secretary To Lam, affirmed that Vietnam wishes to further strengthen and deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the US.
At the regular press briefing in Hanoi on May 15, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang stated that Vietnam is proactively and actively promoting balanced and sustainable trade and investment cooperation with the US, based on the principles of effectiveness, frankness, constructiveness, equality, mutual respect, and mutual benefit.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, while chairing a Government meeting on May 6, asked relevant ministries and agencies to make well-organised preparations for the negotiations, with a view to protecting Vietnam’s legitimate and core interests, while meeting appropriate US requirements.
He reminded the designated agencies to swiftly address US concerns, particularly in enhancing Vietnamese imports of US goods and technologies that meet Vietnam’s needs - a key step toward achieving balanced and sustainable trade.