Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Washington should build on its economic, cultural and educational links with Vietnam for mutual benefit, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai stated while receiving Gary Locke, Governor of the US state of Washington in Hanoi on Wednesday.

Mr Khai thanked Washington for its support of Vietnam’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). He noted that Washington was the first US state to resume co-operation with Vietnam after the normalisation of relations in 1995. He believed that Washington would further strengthen its co-operation with Vietnam.

Mr Khai told the guest that the relationship between Vietnam and the US had progressed rapidly but that the two countries still needed to expand the scale of their co-operation.

Mr Locke spoke of Washington’s history of co-operation with Vietnam and its contributions to US exports to Vietnam. He said his visit aimed to boost ties in culture and education, increase mutual understanding and accelerate commercial links. He said Washington is ready to receive Vietnamese students to study and wants to open universities' bureaux in Vietnam.

Earlier, speaking at a business forum in Hanoi, Mr Locke said Washington is interested in establishing strong and sustainable trade ties with new markets in Vietnam. He said Washington has exported products and services to 50 countries, and Vietnam is Washington's 13th largest market. Last year, its export value to Vietnam reached US$735 million, the largest among US states. He expressed his hope to introduce more products and services from Washington to Vietnamese people.

Mr Locke said his state wants to become a long-term trade partner of Vietnam, learn more about the country and seek opportunities for trade, educational and cultural exchange. Through meetings with Vietnamese partners, he said he was optimistic about the further development of friendship and trade between the US and Vietnam.

According to Hoang Van Dzung, vice chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, two-way trade between Vietnam and the US is expected to reach US$100 billion in 10 years. He hoped that Washington state would act as a bridge linking the US with Southeast Asian nations, including Vietnam.

Juli Wilkerson, director of Washington’s Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, introduced Vietnamese investors to the business environment and characteristics of the state. She pointed to aviation as a field with many opportunities for trade between Vietnam and Washington and affirmed that the state will support Vietnamese businesses' export activities. She said Vietnam’s garments, wood products and construction materials have a good chance to enter the huge market of Washington state. Last year, it imported US$301 million worth of commodities and services from Vietnamese, mostly garments and textiles.

Governor Locke ended his four-day visit to Vietnam on Thursday.