VGP – Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh had bilateral meetings with US Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan on Thursday. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh meets with US Secretary
of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin in  Washington, D.C., May 23, 2019

US looks to lift ties with VN to new height

At meeting with the Secretary of the Treasury, Deputy PM, FM Minh affirmed Viet Nam encourages American enterprises to do business in the Southeast Asian country where business climate is improving.

Minh suggested the two countries work together to address emerging issues with a view to fostering bilateral trade ties for mutual benefits.

Secretary Mnuchin agreed to further strengthen trade and investment cooperation with Viet Nam, considering it as the foundation of the Viet Nam-US relationship.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross in  Washington, D.C., May 23, 2019

Meanwhile, Deputy PM, FM Minh and the Secretary of Commerce agreed both countries will continue the existing mechanisms like the trade and investment framework agreement (TIFA) as well as talks on formulation of a new economic and trade framework for stable and long-term cooperation in line with the nature and level of the overall relationship.

During meeting with the Secretary of Defense, Minh highly valued the US for having provided financial resources to clean up dioxin at Bien Hoa airport.

The two sides agreed to boost cooperation as enshrined in the Memorandum of Understanding on defense cooperation signed and the Joint Vision Statement on defense relations inked in 2011 and 2015, respectively.

The same day, Minh met with Chairman of the House Committee for Foreign Affairs Eliot Engel who voiced support for the Viet Nam-US comprehensive partnership, and Vice President of the AES Corporation Gustavo Pimenta.

Eliot said the US Congress takes care of the East Sea developments and backs the maintenance of freedom, safety and security of aviation and navigation and peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea./.