Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong discussed TPP with US State Governors
Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Cuong met with the governors of Wisconsin, Iowa, Delaware, Mississippi, Colorado and Utah, and leaders of the National Governors Association (NGA), on the fringes of the NGA’s Summer Meeting in Milwaukee (Wisconsin) on August 1-4. The TPP-themed meeting was also joined by the Ambassadors from Japan, Singapore and Peru, which are taking part in the TPP negotiations.
Ambassador Cuong called on the governors of states of the United States to back the ongoing negotiations on the Trans-Asia Pacific (TPP) agreement. He also informed the governors of the outcome of President Truong Tan Sang’s recent visit to the US, including the commitment to accomplishing the TPP agreement in 2013 by the two countries’ Presidents. Trade between Vietnam and the US has grown over 140 percent in the past five years, of which agriculture posted a 200 percent-more growth rate and these growth rates would continue as a result of the signing of the TPP agreement. Ambassador Cuong urged the US side to support the TPP when it is debated at the federal and state Congresses as the document, once signed, will step up regional economic integration and help the benefiting countries fulfill their development goals. The agreement should also take into account the different development levels of members for a comprehensive and balanced agreement.
At the event, the participating governors all pledged support for trade liberalization, reasoning its significant role behind global economic growth. They praised efforts made by Vietnam and other TPP member countries in building an agreement with highest international standards and committed to accelerating the negotiations in 2013.
On this occasion, Ambassador Cuong and his colleagues met with businesses of Milwaukee city, many of whom are running business in Vietnam.-VNA
