Ambassador Wicks pledges to deepen Vietnam-US cooperation in priority areas

Chairman Duoc hosted Wicks and a delegation from the U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Bertholf, led by the vessel's commanding officer, Capt. Andrew Pate, during the vessel's three-day visit to the southern metropolis starting on Sunday.

Expanding economic, investment cooperation

Wicks said one of her top priorities during her tenure is to promote economic cooperation and work toward a more balanced trade relationship.

She expressed hope that U.S. businesses would gain greater access to the Vietnamese market and be able to operate in a transparent business environment with clear legal regulations.

She also noted positive feedback from U.S. companies operating in Vietnam, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City.

In response, Duoc said the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the U.S. is becoming increasingly substantive, with Ho Chi Minh City playing a leading role in promoting cooperation between Vietnamese localities and U.S. partners.

He noted that a growing number of U.S. businesses are investing and operating in Vietnam, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City, and achieving positive results, reflecting the considerable potential for cooperation between the two sides.

The city is transforming its economy, with science, technology, and innovation serving as new drivers of growth.

It is also developing an international financial center to attract global financial institutions and mobilize additional resources for its development.

Alongside these efforts, the city is focusing on training highly skilled workers to meet development needs and developing an energy hub in its Ba Ria-Vung Tau area, while leveraging its seaports to support the energy sector, particularly clean energy.

Duoc expressed hope that more U.S. businesses in high technology, semiconductor chips, finance, and energy would invest in the city and grow together with it.

He affirmed that the city is ready to create favorable conditions for U.S. businesses to make long-term investments, particularly in strategic technology sectors.

Strengthening defense, maritime security, healthcare cooperation

Wicks said strengthening defense and security cooperation and promoting people-to-people exchanges are also among her priorities.

She said the cutter's visit reflects the positive development of defense and security cooperation between the two coastal nations, adding that Washington is ready to work with Vietnam to combat drug trafficking, illegal fishing, and other maritime crimes.

Duoc said the visit is clear evidence of effective bilateral cooperation and would help strengthen defense and security ties between Vietnam and the U.S., particularly in maritime security, an area of particular interest to the city's leadership.

Wicks also said the U.S. government wants to continue working closely with Ho Chi Minh City to support the sustainable handover of U.S.-funded healthcare programs, particularly over the next two years.

Addressing war legacies

Wicks said her recent visits to Quang Tri Province and Bien Hoa Air Base in Dong Nai City had given her a deeper understanding of the lasting consequences of the war and allowed her to witness close coordination between Vietnam and the U.S. in efforts to address its legacies.

She said continuing to work with Vietnam to address war legacies is not only a commitment to the U.S. Congress and leaders in Washington, but also a personal commitment, assuring Vietnam that she would continue to stand alongside the country in the efforts.

Duoc expressed appreciation for the U.S. government's assistance in addressing war legacies, including clearing landmines, removing explosive devices, remediating contaminated land, and supporting families of Agent Orange victims.

He also highlighted bilateral cooperation in Vietnam's ongoing nationwide 500-day campaign to search for and recover the remains of fallen Vietnamese soldiers, with nearly 1,000 sets of remains recovered through joint efforts so far.