Within the framework of the sixth round of negotiations on the Vietnam - US Fair and Balanced Reciprocal Trade Agreement, on February 2 in Washington, D.C., Acting Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung participated in a roundtable with the US - ASEAN Business Council (USABC) under the theme “Shaping a stable, long-term and predictable framework for Vietnam - US economic and trade cooperation.”

At the roundtable, Acting Minister Le Manh Hung exchanged views with a group of US enterprises in the energy, industrial, and aviation sectors under the US - ASEAN Business Council (USABC). The event was a key business dialogue held on the sidelines of the sixth negotiation round of the Fair and Balanced Reciprocal Trade Agreement, reflecting Vietnam’s determination to consolidate and elevate bilateral economic and trade relations in a stable, substantive, and sustainable manner.

Speaking at the roundtable, the Acting Minister affirmed that the US is one of Vietnam’s leading economic and trade partners. Bilateral relations, he noted, should be shaped with a long-term vision, not only based on trade volumes or investment flows, but on the increasingly deep complementarities between the two economies, Vietnam’s growing role in global supply chains, and the strengthening alignment of strategic interests between the two countries.

On that basis, Vietnam seeks to work with the US to build a stable, balanced, and predictable framework for economic and trade cooperation, thereby fostering long-term confidence for the business communities of both countries.

The Acting Minister emphasized that Vietnam is ready to further expand imports from the US, particularly through procurement contracts for machinery, equipment, and high technologies. In recent years, Vietnamese enterprises have implemented a number of large-scale contracts, notably VietJet’s agreement to purchase 200 aircraft and Vietnam Airlines’ contract to buy 50 aircraft from Boeing. These deals have contributed to promoting Vietnam - US trade relations in a more balanced, sustainable, and mutually beneficial direction.

Addressing energy-related issues of interest to US companies, with the participation of major corporations in oil and gas, LNG, and renewable energy, the Acting Minister underscored that ensuring energy security is one of Vietnam’s key development priorities.

According to the Acting Minister, LNG-to-power is identified as an important transitional energy source in the coming period, helping to balance supply and demand and support the energy transition, while offshore wind power and other clean energy sources represent a long-term strategic orientation.

In that spirit, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is focusing on completing the legal framework for electricity, gas, and renewable energy in a transparent and stable manner, creating favorable conditions for the implementation of large-scale projects of strategic significance and economic efficiency.

In the industrial and aviation sectors, in discussions with representatives of US corporations, the Acting Minister affirmed that Vietnam values and seeks to promote long-term cooperation in the development of modern industry, logistics, and air connectivity. Vietnam prioritizes selective investment in foundational industries with high value added, linked to supply chain development, supporting industries, technology transfer, and workforce training. On that basis, the Minister proposed that Boeing continue to expand its supply chain in Vietnam, strengthen cooperation with domestic enterprises, and accelerate aircraft deliveries under signed contracts, thereby supporting Vietnamese airlines in expanding their fleets and enhancing operational capacity.

Regarding high technology and the digital economy, in exchanges with leading US technology groups, the Acting Minister stressed that semiconductors, high technology, and the digital economy are among Vietnam’s strategic priority areas. The Vietnamese Government is committed to continuing institutional reforms, developing digital infrastructure, promoting the use of clean energy in production, and ensuring a healthy and secure competitive environment for investors.

With respect to logistics, trade, and market-supporting services, the Acting Minister highly appreciated the role of US enterprises in improving supply chain efficiency, enhancing market transparency, and facilitating international trade and investment.

Following the plenary session, Acting Minister Le Manh Hung held separate meetings with leaders of Apple, Excelerate Energy, and ExxonMobil to discuss in greater detail cooperation orientations in high technology and energy. At these meetings, the Acting Minister directly listened to enterprises’ proposals, while clarifying Vietnam’s policy priorities and commitments to creating a stable, transparent, and favorable investment environment for long-term projects.

Concluding the session, the Acting Minister affirmed that the Government of Vietnam regards the US business community as an important, long-term, and trusted partner, and is committed to further strengthening policy dialogue, promptly addressing difficulties within the legal framework, and accompanying enterprises on the basis of harmonized interests and shared development. This serves as an important foundation for Vietnam - US economic and trade relations to continue to be consolidated in a stable, substantive, and sustainable direction in the period ahead.

Earlier, on the sidelines of the sixth round of negotiations on the Vietnam - US Fair and Balanced Reciprocal Trade Agreement, Acting Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung also held working meetings with Juan Ignacio Rubiolo, Chief Executive Officer of AES Corporation, and Roger Romulus Martella, Chief Executive Officer of GE Vernova, to discuss practical cooperation orientations in the energy sector and other issues of mutual interest.