Those in attendance at the meeting also included leaders from the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Ministry of Public Security, the State Bank of Vietnam, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US, and representatives of other relevant ministries and agencies.

At the meeting, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien conveyed messages from Party General Secretary To Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to Senator Roger Marshall, affirming Vietnam’s commitment to building a comprehensive strategic partnership with the US and its desire to strengthen bilateral economic and trade cooperation for the benefit of both peoples and business communities.

Regarding the ongoing negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement, Minister Dien stressed that Vietnam remains consistent in negotiating with the US toward an agreement that respects each side’s sovereignty, political system, and development level, while ensuring balanced interests and compatibility with international commitments.

He expressed hope that Senator Marshall, with his strong political influence and deep understanding of trade, agriculture, and innovation, would lend his support to Vietnam in the negotiation process. The Minister also called on the Senator to act as a bridge to promote cooperation between Vietnam and the US, particularly with Kansas, in fields where the state has strengths, such as agriculture, aviation, and biotechnology.

Senator Roger Marshall appreciated Vietnam’s seriousness, proactiveness, and goodwill in negotiations with the United States. He said he would soon share his views with the President and cabinet members involved in the process, and looked forward to seeing positive outcomes from both sides. He also hailed the Minister’s working trip, noting its potential to open new cooperation opportunities between the two countries.

On June 10, Minister Dien met with Jennifer M. Chan and Zoe Barinaga, Vice Presidents of Exxon Mobil. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Minister of Finance Cao Anh Tuan, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung, Vice President of the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group Do Chi Thanh, and other representatives from relevant agencies.

At the meeting, Minister Dien spoke highly of the 16 years of cooperation between Vietnam and Exxon Mobil, one of the world’s leading oil and gas corporations. He welcomed Exxon Mobil’s ongoing projects in Vietnam, including oil and gas exploration and LNG power generation, and appreciated the company's commitment to delivering reliable energy while helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and move toward carbon neutrality.

The Minister urged Exxon Mobil to continue carrying out the Blue Whale gas field development project in accordance with Vietnamese law and the signed petroleum contract.

Representatives of Exxon Mobil reaffirmed their confidence in Vietnam’s economic prospects and regional position, which they said had motivated their long-term presence. They praised Vietnam’s recent reforms under the leadership of Party General Secretary To Lam, adding that the country’s political stability and positive changes have boosted investor confidence and attracted more interest from global players.

They also pledged to convey a positive message about Vietnam to the White House, the US Trade Representative (USTR), and the Departments of Commerce and Energy in support of Vietnam during the negotiation process.

The same day, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien also held talks with executives from Nike and Walmart, two major US corporations with substantial  operations in Vietnam.

At the meeting with Nike, the Minister recognized the group’s long-term, responsible presence in Vietnam, which currently produces around 50% of Nike’s global footwear and provides jobs for over 450,000 workers. He also voiced concern over the potential impacts of current US tax policies on Nike’s global supply chain and US consumers, proposing directions for appropriate support to ensure continued operations in Vietnam.

He affirmed that Vietnam does not see Nike merely as an investor, but as a strategic partner for sustainable development and global integration.

Meeting with Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, Dien acknowledged Walmart’s contributions to promoting Vietnamese products in the global market and urged the group to expand purchases of high-value, eco-friendly goods. He also proposed that Walmart consider establishing a strategic sourcing hub in Vietnam and cooperate in improving supplier capacity through technical standards sharing and training.

Dealing with Walmart’s operational concerns in Vietnam, Minister Dien pledged to work with the Ministry of Finance and relevant agencies to review and refine policies, ensuring transparency and consistency with international practices.

Highlighting the role of US businesses as the bilateral trade agreement enters a crucial phase, the Minister called on Nike and Walmart to voice strong support and help accelerate the negotiations toward a fair, balanced, and sustainable deal between Vietnam and the US.

He emphasized that Vietnam not only hopes for the continued success of Nike and Walmart in the domestic market but also regards them as strategic partners in building a green, transparent, flexible, and sustainable supply chain, thereby enhancing broader economic ties between the two nations.

Vietnam-US trade sees boost with US$3 billion farm product deals

VOV.VN - Vietnamese businesses have signed 20 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to import US agricultural products worth an estimated US$3 billion, marking a major step forward in bilateral trade relations.