Vietnam will continue to monitor and assess the impact of the US’s removal of Vietnam from the list of developing countries under US countervailing duty laws, Foreign Ministry Vice Spokesperson Doan Khac Viet said on February 20 in reply to reporters’ questions about Vietnam’s response to the US move.

Foreign Ministry Vice Spokesperson Doan Khac Viet 

Vietnam will maintain dialogue and continue to coordinate measures with the US in order to promote the harmonious and sustainable development of bilateral trade, benefiting the two sides, the vice spokesperson emphasized.

The country is still benefiting from its developing nation status within the framework of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the official said while stressing that economic and trade ties between Vietnam and the US have grown steadily over recent years, with two-way trade reaching close to US$76 billion in 2019, a year-on-year rise of 25 percent.

The US has retained its position as the biggest export market of Vietnam, while the Southeast Asian nation is among the fastest growing export markets of the US, the Vice Spokesperson noted.

In response to reporters’ queries regarding China’s measures to deal with the epidemic and their efficiency, Viet said Vietnam will continue working closely with China and other nations to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic, and is willing to share treatment experience.

Vietnam greatly values the great efforts of the Chinese government and people to keep the disease in check.

“We believe that under the leadership of the Communist Party and the Government of China, alongside the support of the international community, the Chinese people will overcome this difficulty, and the epidemic in China and other countries and territories will be brought under control,” he said.

Vietnam has kept a close watch on the situation in countries with COVID-19 outbreaks.Following an order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam’s overseas representative offices regularly update epidemic situation, announce their hotlines and stay in touch with Vietnamese citizens. They are also ready to take citizen protection measures when necessary, the official added.