(VNF) - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc arrived in New York on May 29^th (local time), beginning his official visit to the U.S. at the invitation of President Donald Trump.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc arrives in New York. (Photo: baochinhphu.vn)

During his visit, PM Phuc is set to have talks with President Trump at the White House, meet with parliamentarians of both Democratic Party and Republican Party, and talk to scholars. Notably, he will host meetings with many U.S. entrepreneurs, deliver a speech at the Global Heritage Fund, and meet representatives of the Vietnamese community in the U.S.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc welcomed by Vietnamese Ambassador to the U.S. Pham Quang Vinh and his spouse at the airport. (Photo: baochinhphu.vn)

Over the past years, the U.S. has become one of the leading trade partners of Vietnam, with bilateral trade increasing by about 20 per cent each year.

With 815 projects with total registered capital of USD 10.07 billion, the U.S. ranks eighth among 112 countries and territories directly investing in the Southeast Asian nation.

While touring New York, PM Phuc will meet U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and attend an anniversary marking Vietnam’s 40^th anniversary of U.N. membership. Vietnam joined the U.N. in 1977.

The May 29-31 trip, to be made at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump, follows a series of visits by the two countries’ leaders including the trips to the U.S. by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in 2015 and President Truong Tan Sang in 2013, and a visit to Vietnam by President Barack Obama last year.

This visit is the first U.S. trip by a Vietnamese leader since President Donald Trump was sworn into office./.

Compiled by VNF