Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha was speaking during his reception in Hanoi on July 9 for US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper and a working delegation from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Ha highlighted the significance of the upcoming 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States (July 11, 1995 – 2025). He noted this milestone as a testament to the two countries’ efforts to overcome past differences, foster reconciliation and cooperation, and build a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, in the spirit of breaking with the past and looking to the future.

Emphasising that the US is a key strategic partner for Vietnam in the areas of economy and trade, the Deputy Prime Minister stressed the need to address remaining barriers, particularly in trade, investment, and high technology. He urged the US to soon recognise Vietnam as a market economy, which would facilitate greater access to US technology, especially in strategic sectors such as energy, mining, and advanced manufacturing.

Vietnam is ready to engage in comprehensive cooperation with the US, based on transparency, fairness, and shared benefits, he assured his guests.

The Deputy Prime Minister also expressed Vietnam’s strong desire for US support in developing artificial intelligence (AI), through technology transfer, investment, training, and joint ventures, envisioning AI as a new symbol of bilateral cooperation in the future.

He praised the Ambassador for his active contributions to promoting cooperation across various fields, including effective connections between the two governments and between businesses and state agencies, particularly in economic, trade, and climate change-related initiatives.

For his part, Knapper highlighted the significance of the 30th anniversary of normalised relations between the two countries. He affirmed the United States’ commitment to accompanying Vietnam in achieving its national development goals of becoming a green economy by 2050, a high-income economy by 2045, and a high-tech economy in the future.

The United States is eager to expand cooperation in high technology, AI, strategic mineral supply chains, data, and education, he said.

During the meeting, USAID representatives announced the agency’s plan to close its office in Vietnam as part of a global restructuring initiative by the US government. However, USAID will continue to transition important programs such as HIV/AIDS prevention, war legacy remediation, environmental protection, and public health to the US Department of State to maintain long-term engagement.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha acknowledged USAID’s practical and enduring contributions over the past three decades, calling the agency a vital cultural and economic bridge that has helped build trust between the two countries. He affirmed that USAID’s mission and bilateral cooperation would continue to be sustained and further enhanced.

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