Hanoi (VNA) – DeputyMinister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai recently led a delegation ofVietnamese enterprises to the US to meet local officials and businesses tofoster bilateral trade and investment links.

According to the Cong Thuong(Industry & Trade) newspaper, Hai had a working sessionwith the administration of Los Angeles city on July 11 to discuss economiccooperation issues.

He said as a highly openeconomy with growing engagement in global value chains, Vietnam has its future increasingly connected with the that of the region as well as stability of its relations with major economies, including the US.

Bilateral cooperation hasbeen quickly expanded to many aspects, of which technology, energy,infrastructure and digital economy are assessed as greatly potential and becomingpillars of their economic - trade connections in the future, he went on.

Hai noted to guarantee the achievementof growth targets, energy security and energy transition will be the leadingpriorities in Vietnam’s socio-economic development. It will be a bigchallenge as the country has to concurrently boost the scale of powersources and grid, strongly shift from fossil fuel to cleaner fuel for power generationso as to realise the commitments made at COP26, and keep power prices reasonable.

Deputy Mayor forInternational Affairs of Los Angeles Nina Hachigian said her city attachesimportance to the relations with Vietnam and wishes to further enhance partnershipsin renewable energy, advanced manufacturing and hi-tech agriculture.

The two sides discussedorientations for promoting collaboration in trade, market opening, retail,energy, energy transition, hi-tech agriculture and digital economy, among otherson the basis of mutual interests.

They affirmed Vietnam’scooperation with the US, including Los Angeles, holds much potential and roomto develop, and that the business community in California and its Los Angelescity, with capital and technological advantages, will play the central role inthe reinforcement of bilateral ties in the time to come.

Also on July 11, the VietnameseMinistry of Industry and Trade, the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office and the city’s Chamberof Commerce held a Vietnam - US business forum with the participation of over150 companies from both countries.

Hai described the forum as asignificant event as this was the first time after nearly three years, sincethe COVID-19 pandemic broke out, a business delegation from Vietnam had come tothe US to directly meet local officials and enterprises to step up trade andinvestment partnerships./.