A shrimp processing line of Fimex Vietnam Joint Stock Company in the southern province of Sóc Trăng. Shrimp is one of key products exported to the US. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — It is now an important time for Việt Nam and the US state of West Virginia to cooperate in a joint effort on economic resumption and fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister of Industry and Trade Trần Tuấn Anh has said.

The minister made the statement during an online talk with Carol Miller, US House member representing West Virginia’s 3rd congressional district, on Thursday.

The talks also involved Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Hà Kim Ngọc and representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), Việt Nam’s trade office in the US, and the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin).

Anh underlined the special significance of Việt Nam-US ties while speaking highly of Miller’s role in promoting bilateral economic and trade relations in the US Congress and Government. 

Việt Nam and the US have devised an action plan elaborating various measures towards sustainable trade, including boosting cooperation with the US federal government and states, he said.

According to Anh, building strategic trust is among the leading factors that help bolster the Việt Nam-US comprehensive partnership in general and bilateral economic and trade ties in particular, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in Asia-Pacific.

The Vietnamese Government has given priority to improving the investment climate and creating optimal conditions for US projects, he confirmed.

He also suggested the signing of an agreement between the MoIT and West Virginia to foster collaboration, focusing on the three pillars of economics, trade, and energy, in a bid to build a legal framework and facilitate cooperation between the business communities of the two sides.

The US congresswoman appreciated the suggestion, and thanked the Vietnamese Government for facilitating long-term business activities by foreign investors in general and US businesses in particular.
She said that West Virginia and Việt Nam share a common goal of enhancing trade connections, especially in fields where the state boasts strengths, such as energy, coal, and liquefied gas, among others. 

She pledged to spare no effort in promoting the image of Việt Nam in the US Congress and Government, thereby contributing to the two country’s cooperation in a practical and effective manner. 

The Vietnamese Embassy pledged to work as a bridge to promote the collaboration between Việt Nam’s ministries, sectors and enterprises with US states.

Trade cooperation and investment between Việt Nam and the US have been thriving, with two-way trade hitting US$77.5 billion in 2019 and $19.5 billion in the first quarter of 2020, a year-on-year increase of 19.3 per cent. — VNS