PM seeks stronger trade, investment ties with Los Angeles

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The PM told his guest that the US’s exports to Vietnam have kept increasing, up 19 percent year-on-year in the first half of this year. Vietnamese airlines also bought a large number of aircraft from the US in a short time, he said. 

He stressed that Vietnam considers the US one of the most important partners and wants to continue promoting practical and effective development of the bilateral comprehensive partnership for the benefit of the two countries’ people, thus contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific region. 

Speaking highly of Garcetti’s visit, the PM said Vietnam regards California as one of its top local partners. 

He hailed the upcoming launch of Vietnam-Los Angeles direct air route, saying that transportation is also a promising field in bilateral cooperative ties. 

PM Phuc urged US firms, including those owned by Vietnamese-American to push the US government to soon recognise Vietnam as a market economy, open the door for more Vietnamese goods and reduce trade and non-trade barriers. 

The leader reiterated Vietnam’s consistent policy of considering overseas Vietnamese an inseparable part and one of the important resources for national construction and development. 

As California state, Los Angeles and Orange County are home to large number of people of Vietnamese origin, he asked them to create favourable conditions for them to study and work there. 

Vietnam wants US investors to continue increasing investments in the Southeast Asian country to bring benefits to the two nations’ people, he said, pledging all possible support for US firms. 

He wished that the Mayor would encourage exchanges and visits to share information and raise mutual understanding between residents in Los Angeles and Vietnamese localities. 

Garcetti, for his part, said he has loved Vietnam and its people since his first visit over 25 years ago. 

He told the PM that ties between Los Angeles and Vietnamese localities and businesses have kept growing over the past years with increasingly rising trade. 

The Mayor said he had held working sessions with the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to facilitate the launching of the direct air service and a Vietnamese Trade Office in the city, which he said, will create favourable conditions for  Vietnamese tourists to Los Angeles and vice versa. 

Introducing seaports as a strength of Los Angeles, where 40 percent of exports-imports to and from the US are handled, he suggested that Vietnam should partner with the city in the field to raise two-way trade.