(VOVworld) - Vietnam boasts potential for becoming the US’ big trade partner in the region, US Secretary of State John Kerry said when dropping in HCM City as part of his trip to Vietnam from December 14-17.

 Meeting with the Vietnamese business community on Saturday, Kerry said that many companies from the two countries are boosting cooperation for the prosperity of their respective country. He said that the two sides are on the right track to bring trade links to a higher level. The US has initially provided 4.2 million USD for its relevant agencies to work out programs on building a strategic partnership between the two sides. Kerry praised Vietnam’s sustainable growth and potential and said he believed Vietnam will develop rapidly like the Republic of Korea. He affirmed his country’s willingness to support Vietnam in higher education program aiming to train high-quality human resources. Kerry on Monday will attend the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding on overcoming the aftermath of bombs and mines between Vietnam’s State Steering Committee for the National Action Program on overcoming the aftermath of bombs and mines left by the war and the US State Department.