Washington DC (VNA) – Vietnamand the US still hold huge potential for cooperation in farm produce trade, andthe two countries should not compete in trade but supplement each other, DeputyMinister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Quoc Doanh has said.

The official made the remark whileattending a roundtable with representatives of associations and firms of the USin Washington DC on February 24, aiming to bolster bilateral farm produce tradeand raising the two-way trade growth.

He is leading a delegation of the Ministryof Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) on a visit to the US from February24-29, part of an action plan towards harmonious and sustainable trade balanceof the two countries.

Speaking at the event, Doanh affirmed that theVietnam-US relations over the years have thrived in various fields, includingcooperation in agriculture and farm produce trade.

The US is the leading nation of the worldin modern agricultural production, while Vietnam is restructuring agriculturalsector in an efficient manner in tandem with market demand and boasts strengthsin tropical products such as fruits and high quality seafood.

Therefore, businesses should capitalise onthe chance to bolster bilateral farm produce trade, Doanh said.

The US is currently the third biggest tradepartner of Vietnam, while Vietnam has become the 27th largest export market and16th trade partner of the US.

At the roundtable, representatives of USsectors voiced their willingness to support and create optimal conditions forVietnamese firms in the coming time.

The two sides also exchanged informationand pointed out difficulties, such as high costs of imported items and tariffs,and long transport duration, among others.

To address those bottlenecks, firms areadvised to thoroughly study markets and export-import regulations of respectivecountry, as well as frequently update information and participate in tradepromotions held by the MARD and the US Department of Agriculture to seek businesspartners.

They should promptly report problems andsend recommendations to the two agricultural agencies to find solutions andcreate favourable conditions for agro-forestry-fishery trade of the countries.

After Washington DC, the Vietnamesedelegation will join activities in other US states of Iowa and Nebraska./.