Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen and US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman. Photo: US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City

Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City's Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen held a meeting for visiting US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on June 12, during which he stressed that the city wishes to work as a factor contributing to fostering the Vietnam-US relationship, through cooperation at the local level, reported VNA.

According to Nen, the bilateral relationship has made significant strides across spheres, adding that the US is now Vietnam’s 11th biggest investor with more than 1,100 projects worth USD 10.47 billion as of April.

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the US remained the biggest importer of Vietnam in 2020-2021. Vietnam has also emerged as the 9th largest trade partner of the US.

The US is also HCM City’s leading trade partner, with two-way trade reaching some USD 9 billion. The US is the 10th biggest investor in the city with more than 500 projects valued at around USD 1.2 billion.

Additionally, the US is a potential and important partner in such spheres as high-tech, smart city building, finance, health care, education, and high-quality personnel training, he said.

HCM City welcomes US investors, especially in high-tech, smart city building, health care, finance, infrastructure and renewable energy, he said, pledging that local authorities will create optimal conditions for foreign investors, including those from the US, to operate in the city.

US Deputy Secretary Sherman tours the Saigon River with local environmentalists to learn about the impacts of climate change and water pollution in southern Vietnam. Photo: US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City

For her part, Sherman expressed her delight at cooperation and mutual support between Vietnam and the US during the pandemic spread in the two countries.

The US welcomes the Vietnamese government’s policy of clean energy transition, which will help the country achieve its commitments to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, she noted.

US firms want to pour more investments in Vietnam, particularly in renewable energy, digital transformation, digital economy and education, she continued.

The Deputy Secretary suggested the two countries roll out specific cooperation activities in the time ahead, especially in energy, environment, high-tech and education.

Deputy Secretary Sherman also has toured the Saigon River with local environmentalists to learn about the impacts of climate change and water pollution in southern Vietnam.

Sherman arrived in Vietnam on Friday to discuss important strategies to support a strong, independent and prosperous Vietnam, according to the US Embassy in Hanoi.

The embassy announced Sherman's arrival in Vietnam via Facebook.

Sherman, according to the embassy, on June 11 visited Fulbright University Vietnam and discussed important strategies related to the Indo-Pacific region.

She was the keynote speaker of the YSEALI Academy's inaugural seminar on Energy Economics and Policy, though virtually.

US Deputy Secretary Sherman talks with athletes with disabilities at the Khuc Hao Sports Centre, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi. Photo: US Embassy in Hanoi

Sherman also visited the Hanoi-based Khuc Hao Sports Center, where athletes are hard at work training for upcoming regional and international competitions. She was impressed by the strength and performance of the athletes and moved by their personal accounts of how sports have changed their lives.

She stressed that the US remains committed to building a more equitable world through ensuring full inclusion and accessibility for persons with disabilities.

“Just like Vietnam, we always try to bring equal and respected life to everyone in society.” According to Sherman, since 1989, the US has provided more than USD 140 million in support for people with disabilities in Vietnam. In the coming time, the US and Vietnam will coordinate a training program to bring athletes and coaches in November.

During the meeting, Deputy Minister Sherman listened to the athletes share and also talked about her personal experience. Athletes' stories "teach us that in life you can't always have success, it's the failures that help us learn many lessons," said Sherman, as well as the joy of self-improvement, friendships and experiences of participating in tournaments.

She emphasized the importance of people-to-people exchanges and affirmed that the US will continue to work with Vietnam to do all it can to organize tournaments and support athletes.

Her visit to Vietnam is part of a four-nation trip that took her to the Republic of Korea, the Philippines and Laos from June 5-14, according to the US State Department.

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