At the meeting, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc congratulated Ambassador Jennifer Wicks on beginning her tenure in Viet Nam and highly appreciated her active engagement in various activities during the first weeks of her assignment, demonstrating the importance she attaches to bilateral relations and her determination to promote bilateral cooperation from the outset.

The Standing Deputy Prime Minister expressed his confidence that, with her extensive experience working in the US Government and her understanding of the region, Ambassador Wicks would have a successful tenure and make important contributions to advancing the Viet Nam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in a stable, substantive and effective manner.

He affirmed that Vietnam consistently considers the US one of its most strategically important partners and wishes to work with the US to fully leverage the strategic value of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework and deepen bilateral cooperation. Economic, trade and investment cooperation should continue to serve as key drivers, while science and technology, innovation and human resource development should become strategic and long-term areas of cooperation.

The Standing Deputy Prime Minister asked Ambassador Wicks to play her role as a bridge between the two countries, promote high-level exchanges and substantively implement agreements reached, ensuring that Viet Nam-US relations continue to develop in a stable and long-term manner, bringing practical benefits to the peoples of both countries and contributing to peace, stability and development in the region.

Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc affirmed that Viet Nam is implementing a new development model that identifies science and technology, innovation and digital transformation as key drivers. Accordingly, Viet Nam welcomes US businesses to make long-term investments, particularly in advanced technologies, while promoting technology transfer, human resource training and stronger linkages with Vietnamese enterprises.

The Standing Deputy Prime Minister called on the two sides to promote economic and trade cooperation in a harmonious, sustainable and mutually beneficial manner; urgently resolve outstanding issues and soon conclude negotiations and sign a reciprocal, fair and balanced trade agreement, creating a stable framework for businesses from both countries to expand investment, production and business activities.

Ambassador Jennifer Wicks expressed her appreciation to the Standing Deputy Prime Minister for receiving her shortly after the beginning of her tenure in Viet Nam. She recalled the honor of meeting General Secretary and President To Lam and sharing the view that Viet Nam-US relations have never been as good as they are today.

The Ambassador also expressed her honor at being entrusted by President Trump with the mission of promoting relations between the two countries, expressing her confidence that the two sides would achieve substantive results in implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Ambassador Jennifer Wicks affirmed the US commitment to supporting a “strong, independent, resilient and prosperous” Viet Nam, stressing that economic and trade cooperation would remain a top priority during her tenure, while cooperation would continue to expand across all other pillars.

She highly valued the efforts of the Vietnamese Government to improve the legal framework and investment and business environment, as well as to strengthen dialogue to promote cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

The Ambassador affirmed that she would closely coordinate with Vietnamese authorities to advance specific cooperation projects. She expressed her wish that the two sides maintain positive exchanges to soon reach a high-standard, reciprocal, fair and balanced trade agreement, thereby creating additional economic and investment opportunities for both countries.

Ambassador Jennifer Wicks thanked the Vietnamese Government for its attention and direction in advancing shared priorities. She pledged to do her utmost to contribute to further developing the Viet Nam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the coming period.