(VOVworld) – Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong attended a seminar on Wednesday with representatives of US economic groups to introduce them to Vietnam’s economic development highlights and policies to facilitate conditions for economic, trade, and investment cooperation.

Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong delivered a speech at CSIS

Representatives of the US corporations expressed their belief that the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement now being negotiated will create trade and investment opportunities for the two business communities.

Representatives of US economic groups at a meeting with Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong.

Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong acknowledged the contributions of the American business community to Vietnam’s economic development and social welfare and encouraged them to invest more in Vietnam.

Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong’s speech about the Vietnam-US relations in the changing world attracts all participants’ attention.

Mr. Trong commented: “US investment projects are mainly in technology, IT, oil and gas, manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, finance, banking, and added value services. We greatly appreciate US investors’ contributions to Vietnam’s socio-economic development and strengthening of bilateral links.”

In his address at a banquet for Party leader Trong and representatives of the US business community, Mr. Trong expressed his hope that American firms will tap investment opportunities in Vietnam with more added value projects using advanced and environmentally-friendly technologies that match their global business strategies and help boost the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership.

Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong in his address at CSIS

Mr. Trong delivered a speech at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) where he focused on the relations between Vietnam and the US in the new period. He had an open and frank discussion with scholars, researchers, and diplomats there.

Earlier at the headquarters of the State Department of Defense, Party leader Trong met US lawmakers.

At a meeting which was chaired by Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy, US lawmakers expressed their pleasure at strengthening the bilateral friendship and cooperation in all fields, especially trade and security. They also expressed their concern over recent developments in the East Sea.

Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong said Vietnam-US relations have made much progress over the past 20 years based on mutual understanding, respect of each other’s independence, sovereignty, and political institutions, cooperation for mutual benefit, and open dialogues to gain a consensus on difficult issues.

Mr. Trong said Vietnam greatly appreciates the US’s constructive and responsible contribution regarding the East Sea conflict, adding that Vietnam consistently pursues a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, and being an active, reliable and responsible member of the UN.

He said Vietnam wants to settle all disputes in the East Sea via peaceful dialogue and respect for international law, especially the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.

The same day, at a meeting with Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong, US Senator John McCain said the progress the two countries have achieved over the past 20 years is remarkable, and that the US and Vietnam are in a position to extend that progress.