(VOVworld) - President Truong Tan Sang praised progress in Vietnam – US bilateral relations while receiving US Trade Representative Ronald Kirk in Hanoi yesterday. Sang emphasized that the two countries should bring their relations to a new level on the basis of respecting each other’s independence, sovereignty and territorial
integrity.

Sang spoke highly of the role of the Office of the United States Trade Representative in consolidating relations between the two countries, particularly in the fields of economics, trade, and investment. He called on American businesses to boost investment in Vietnam.

The President said Vietnam is seeking recognition as a market economy to benefit from the removal of trade and investment restrictions. He urged the US government to recognize Vietnam’s market economy status and grant the country the Generalized System of Preferences. Sang expressed hope that the two countries will coordinate in cooperative mechanisms and multi-lateral economic cooperation, and solve economic and trade disagreements in a spirit of equality, respect and mutual benefit.

Mr. Kirk insisted that the US government also wants to see stronger relations between Vietnam and the Unites States. He expressed his wish that the two countries, along with other parties, will soon complete negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.

The same day, Kirk also held talks with Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh, which mainly focused on the TPP negotiations. Ninh said Vietnam places special importance on the TPP agreement, which poses both challenges and opportunities. The Deputy Prime Minister asked the US to take into account Vietnam’s socio-economic situation in setting appropriate policies in the TPP negotiation. Vietnam has fine tuned its legal system to the international integration process.