WASHINGTON DC — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc met US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue in Washington DC on Tuesday (local time). 

The PM lauded the development of co-operation in economics, trade and investment between the two countries in recent years, emphasising this as a driving force in bilateral relations, contributing to growth and job generation. 
He affirmed that Việt Nam attaches importance to economic-trade-investment collaboration with the US and wishes to boost bilateral economic ties for mutual benefits. 
Việt Nam will create more favourable conditions for the US to bring products to the market while improving the business and investment environment, he said. 
The US guests agreed that the two countries have complementary economies, adding that the US treasures economic-trade ties with Việt Nam and welcomes the Southeast Asian nation to continue pursuing economic reforms and international integration, enabling US firms to invest and do business. 
The US side hailed the Vietnamese Government for easing some issues of US concern and its will to support US growth and employment targets. 

Both nations should approve the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) mechanism to further discuss addressing difficulties in trade. 

Speaking at a meeting with leading enterprises of the US and at the banquet jointly held by the US Chamber of Commerce and the US-ASEAN Business Council, PM Phúc applauded US firms’ investment in Việt Nam. 
He asserted Việt Nam’s determination to promote renovation and international integration, and implement measures in line with fair trade rules, stressing that Việt Nam considers US enterprises’ success as its success. 

US firms affirmed their support for strengthened relations between the two countries, saying that the Vietnamese Government’s policies created a fair environment for foreign enterprises, including those from the US. 
They said they will support Việt Nam in holding APEC 2017. 
The same day, PM Phúc received the World Bank’s Regional Vice President for the East Asia and Pacific, Victoria Kwakwa, during which he asked the bank to continue supporting Việt Nam in both international support and economic and financial policy consultation. 
Kwakwa expressed her admiration for Việt Nam’s development as well as the country’s achievements in poverty reduction. 
She said the World Bank’s Boards of Directors supports Việt Nam’s measures to promote economic restructuring and growth expansion, affirming that the bank will continue to make it easy for the Vietnamese Government to achieve stronger development. — VNS