Hanoi (VNA)🔯 – National Assembly (NA) Chairman VuongDinh Hue has welcomed the first Vietnam visit by a high-ranking delegation fromthe US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) since Vietnam and the US upgraded their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership last year.

At a reception in Hanoi on March 20 for the delegation led by USABCPresident and CEO Ted Osius, Chairman Hue affirmed that Vietnam considers US a leading important partner, especially in economy and trade. Vietnam is willing to develop the comprehensive strategic partnership with the US on the basis of respecting each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political regimes, he said, adding that Vietnam priosities expanding cooperative ties with the US on all the bilateral, regional and global aspects with a higher level of mutual understanding and trust. Highlighting Vietnam’s key goals of making breakthroughs in infrastructure,institutional reforms, and human resources development; promoting the application of sci-technology, innovation, digital transformation, green transition, sustainabledevelopment and climate change response, the top legislator said he was delighted to know thatmany big US enterprises and corporations consider Vietnam a strategic market,share a common vision with Vietnam's development directions and commit to long-termoperations in the country. He hailed the US enterprises for engaging inprojects to assist Vietnam in achieving its carbon emission reduction goals andfulfilling commitments made at the 26th United Nations ClimateChange Conference of the Parties (COP26). Speaking highly of the US Government’scommitment to consider granting the market economy status to Vietnam, Chairman Hue called ita practical and significant step that would lay a premise for all-around cooperationand benefit businesses and citizens of both countries. The Vietnamese NA always strongly supports thedevelopment of the Vietnam-US relations, efforts to create a legal and policyframework that is favourable, stable, transparent and conducive for foreignenterprises, including those from the US, to continue operating, expandingtheir scale, and achieving long-term growth in Vietnam, particularly in the areaswhere the US possesses strengths and Vietnam has demand, he said. He added that Vietnam encourages US firms toincrease investment and collaboration with Vietnamese counterparts in thefields of green transition, clean and renewable energy, transport infrastructure, digital economy, high technology, healthcare - pharmaceuticals,electronics - semiconductors, manufacturing, finance - banking, logistics and qualityworkforce training. The leader wished that the USABC firms step up investment andprovide financial assistance, expertise and specialists for start-up andinnovative projects, as well as those using modern technologies, added value andhighly competitive solutions.

With its reputation and extensive network, he expected that the USABC would further leverage its role as a bridge facilitating strongercooperation between the US Government and Congress, and the Vietnamese NA,including supporting the establishment of a group of congressmen who are friendly to Vietnam and sharing information about planned visitsto Vietnam by US congressmen delegations.

USABC President and CEO Ted Osius highlighted thecommitment of US businesses to realise the US-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership andtheir alignment with Vietnam's development priorities.

🃏 About the US’s recognition of Vietnam's marketeconomy status, he said the USABC has provided evidence of Vietnam's marketeconomy and submitted recommendations and reports to the US Department of Commerce.

He also highlighted two points, including guidance on avoidingdouble taxation on e-commerce and digital platforms, and policy guidance oncooperation with small and medium-sized enterprises in the private sector andpublic-private partnerships. In response, Chairman Hue said proposals by the US firms wouldbe considered by the Vietnamese NA, Government, ministries and agencies, towards ultimately creating the most favourable business environment for enterprises,including those from the US. It was the third working session between the topVietnamese legislator and the USABC since the beginning of the 15th term of the NA./.