As previously agreed, the second round of talks is scheduled to take place from May 19 to 22, 2025, in Washington D.C., United States.

The second round of negotiations on the bilateral agreement on reciprocal trade between Vietnam and the United States began on the morning of May 19.

The Vietnamese delegation is led by Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, who also serves as Head of the Government Negotiating Team. The delegation includes representatives from various ministries and agencies such as Public Security, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Construction, Home Affairs, Agriculture and Environment, Science and Technology, Justice, and the State Bank of Vietnam.

Talks officially began on the morning of May 19 (US local time). During the first working day, the two sides focused on aligning on a general framework to tackle key issues of shared interest and move the process forward more efficiently.

Negotiators engaged in open, frank, and constructive discussions on several core topics. They worked to clarify the language of the draft agreement, exchanged information on current policies in each country, and laid the groundwork for subsequent negotiations.

On the same day, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien met with executives from Westinghouse, a leading global corporation in nuclear power technology.

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien works with Westinghouse - one of the world's leading corporations in nuclear power technology.

At the meeting, Minister Dien shared that Vietnam has adopted a policy to restart its nuclear power program to ensure long-term energy security, given the country's rapidly rising electricity demand and the current limitations of renewable energy sources.

He emphasized that Vietnam would approach the development of nuclear energy with caution, prioritizing modern, safe, and practical solutions. According to the Minister, Vietnam has several promising sites suitable for nuclear power projects, which opens the door for cooperation with international partners such as Westinghouse. Potential collaboration may include both large-scale nuclear power plants and small modular reactors (SMRs).

Minister Dien further noted that energy cooperation would serve as a key driver in helping balance the bilateral trade relationship.

Margaret Cosentino, Vice President of Westinghouse, voiced strong support for Vietnam’s nuclear ambitions and underscored the importance of long-term collaboration in the energy sector.

The two sides agreed to continue sharing information and work toward signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Westinghouse and the Vietnam National Industrial and Energy Group (Petrovietnam). The MoU would focus on nuclear energy development and promote further cooperation in critical areas such as energy infrastructure investment models (including PPP and BOT), technology transfer, and workforce training and development for Vietnam’s nuclear energy industry.

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien also convened meetings with members of the Vietnamese negotiating delegation and related agencies before and after the first day of talks to coordinate strategies and review outcomes.