Anthony Nelson, Director of Albright Stonebridge Consulting Group (Source: albrightstonebridge.com) Nelson, who is also former director in charge ofthe issue of Vietnam of the US Business Council – ASEAN, made the remark in arecent interview to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Washington, on theoccasion of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s official visit to the US from May29-31.
He said this will be an opportunity for Vietnamto emphasise the importance of the relationship with the US.
He noted that the first visit of Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc to the US is also the first visit of leaders of ASEANcountries since the US has a new administration.
Therefore, this visit really important andhighly iconic, he said, adding that this is an opportunity for the PM toemphasise Vietnam’s pioneering in ASEAN and the country’s role as a key economicand security partner of the US.
The visit also demonstrates the US’s recognitionof the leadership role of Vietnam in the regional architecture, he said.
According to Anthony Nelson, bilateral trade hasgrown remarkably, but there are some concerns about the trade surplus with theUS in Vietnam.
The US exports to Vietnam have increaseddramatically over the years, higher than the other top trade partners of theUS, he said.
Although the US has withdrawn from theTrans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, but a lot of progress has beenachieved through negotiations.
It would be unfortunate if the two countries donot continue and they could formally propose a bilateral free trade agreement,he added.
Apart from economy and security, the publicdiplomacy between Vietnam and the US is also growing strongly, he said, citingthat a large number of Vietnamese students are studying in the US and many haveparticipated in the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative.
Besides that, cooperation to mitigate the impactof climate change is an important issue for Vietnam, he said, adding there aremany other cooperation spheres this year when Vietnam is hosting the APECsummit and has an important voice in ASEAN.
Vietnam has become a true leader in the region’smatters, he said, noting President Donald Trump’s commitment to attending theAPEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Vietnam later this year is great and Vietnamshould take this occasion to persuade the US to participate in all events ofAPEC and ASEAN.
Along with the history and the relations betweentheir people, Vietnam and the US share the same interest in regional issues,and there are many areas of cooperation of mutual interest such as economy,freedom of transit, free trade and free flow of money services, he said.
He evaluated that the bilateral rapports willgrow further in the coming time.-VNA
VNA
