Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc receives Nebraska state’s Governor John Pete Ricketts in Hà Nội on Friday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI The Vietnamese Government has paid great attention to strengthening co-operation with the US as well as ties between Vietnamese localities and US states, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has said.
Receiving Nebraska state’s Governor John Pete Ricketts in Hà Nội yesterday, Phúc said Việt Nam considered the US one of its most important partners, and wants to promote the partnership between the two countries for the sake of their people and for peace, stability, co-operation and development in Asia-Pacific.
Over the years, trade and investment co-operation between the two countries have been expanding, with two-way trade surpassing US$60 billion.
Việt Nam is working to balance bilateral trade, the Prime Minister said, expressing delight that Nebraska had exported many kinds of goods to Viet Nam.

The Prime Minister also expressed his hope that through the visit, the Nebraska delegation would gain a better understanding of Việt Nam, helping foster Việt Nam-US relations, especially in economy, trade and investment.
For his part, Ricketts said the US and Nebraska in particular were keen on boosting relations with Việt Nam. He noted Nebraska was home to a large number of Vietnamese people.
He said Nebraska was the strongest state of the US in terms of beef export, with its export turnover to Việt Nam tripling in recent years.
Highlighting Nebraska’s strength in agriculture, the governor said co-operation in the field was discussed with the Vietnamese ministries and sectors during his visit.
He proposed the two sides work together to remove difficulties to boost trade and investment ties, while suggesting the organisation of an investment promotion conference between the two sides in Nebraska, thus helping accelerate the partnership between the two countries.
Agreeing with Ricketts, PM Phúc said Việt Nam always created optimal conditions for products of the US and Nebraska to enter the country. "Việt Nam has demand for co-operation in agriculture where Nebraska has strength," he said.
The Government leader lauded the co-operation among agriculture universities of the two nations, describing this as a right direction for the sustainable development of the sector and providing safe products for consumers.
Phúc expressed his hope that Nebraska would work as a bridge to connect Việt Nam and the US as well as businesses of both sides to develop bilateral relations.
He also expected the governor would help expand bilateral co-operation not only in agriculture but also in other sectors such as finance-banking, education-training, science-technology, health care, and security-defence. — VNS