U.S. Secretary of Commerce Meets with Vietnamese Leaders and Press

SOURCE: youtube.com by achanoi

During her meeting with President Truong Tan Sang, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker expressed her belief that bilateral trade and investment links will continue to grow, especially after the Trans-Pacific Partnership is signed and becomes effective.

Meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, the Secretary of Commerce emphasized cooperation potential between the two nations in aviation, construction and energy and expressed hope that the Vietnamese Government will facilitate U.S. investment in the long run.

At a press roundtable, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker reaffirmed long-standing commitments of U.S. enterprises to Vietnam, in spite of the tensions in the East Sea (South China Sea). Secretary Penny Pritzker confirmed that Vietnam is an important partner of the U.S. in the ASEAN, the trip made by her and the U.S. enterprises has showed U.S. strong engagements with Vietnam and ASEAN. In the context of the East Sea’s tensions caused by China’s illegal placement of the oil rig in Vietnam’s territorial waters, U.S. trade engagement with Vietnam is not affected, even if China does not deescalate. The U.S. Secretary of Commerce noted that “China’s placement of HD 981 oil rig in Vietnam’s sea area with such acts by China’s vessels is really provocative. It is U.S.’s responsibility to maintain peace, stability and maritime freedom in the region. U.S. businesses are not affected by those intensions, but China’s acts are hindering peace as well as maritime freedom we would like parties to settle the issue via diplomatic talks, in accordance with the international law”. The U.S. Secretary of Commerce highlighted that this is a very appropriate time for U.S. enterprises to continue strengthening trade investment and look for opportunities in Vietnam. In addition, with strong commitments from senior leaders of parties, the TPP will also be concluded as scheduled and will bring about an increase in exports of about 32 percent and GDP by 25 percent for Vietnam.