Top leader meets representatives of US energy, tech giants

Meeting Executive Vice President of AES Corporation Juan Ignacio Rubiolo, the top leader spoke highly of the corporation’s effective operation in Vietnam.

Affirming that Vietnam always supports foreign investors, especially those in clean energy transition, he suggested AES continue its close coordination with Vietnamese partners in projects to ensure compliance with legal regulations.

Vietnam is looking for solutions to balance its trade with the US, he said, adding the country, therefore, supports the import of liquefied petroleum gas. The leader also suggested AES maintain its future implementation plan when its project is included in the country’s power plan.

The Party, State and people of Vietnam are committed to creating favourable conditions for US investors in general and AES in particular to operate effectively in the country, he promised.

In reply, Rubiolo reiterated the commitment of AES, which has been in Vietnam for more than 15 years, to doing long-term business in the Southeast Asian nation, and assisting it in energy transition and green economy.

AES wishes to coordinate with local firms such as PV Gas and Vietnam Electricity (EVN) to maximise clean energy supply in service of Vietnam's industrial projects, and improve and ensure the reliability of energy supply for the country, he said, pledging further investment to help raise living standards there.

At the reception for Tim Hughes, Senior Vice President for Global Business and Government Affairs of the US-based provider of spacecraft, satellite launch services, and satellite communications SpaceX, Lam said he hopes that the group will help Vietnam respond to natural disasters in a timely and effective fashion.

Emphasising that Vietnam views digital transformation as an important driving force in the new era, the Party General Secretary and State President appreciated the group’s investment proposal in Vietnam and expressed hope that this will be a step forward in promoting cooperation between the two sides.

The Vietnamese Government is weighing the investment proposal, he said, asking SpaceX to closely coordinate with relevant Vietnamese agencies and partners to complete investment procedures.

Hughes highly values Vietnam’s potential for SpaceX's satellite internet plan, and informed that the group aims to inject US$15 billion into the country in the near future.

Expressing his support for Vietnam’s policy of univeral internet services, Hughes affirmed his desire to support the country to realise it, and called for the support from the Vietnamese Government, as well as the coordination from Vietnamese ministries and agencies in this regard.

Receiving Nate Franklin, Founder and Chairman of the Pacifico Energy Group, Lam spoke highly of the group’s contributions and successful investment and business activities in the world and in Vietnam in recent times, as well as its new investment plan for energy transition projects in Vietnam in the near future.

Emphasising that Vietnam is a responsible nation in environmental protection, committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, and promoting energy transition, he urged the group to accelerate the implementation of ongoing projects; and hoped that it would develop more projects in Vietnam.

He stressed that the Party, State, and people of Vietnam are committed to creating favourable conditions, in accordance with the law, for US investors in general, and Pacifico in particular, to invest and do business effectively and sustainably in the country.

For his part, Franklin said the group has been present in Vietnam since 2017 and is proud to be the first renewable energy firm to complete projects in Vietnam, such as wind and solar power.

Highlighting Vietnam's geographical and topographical advantages for clean energy development, he pledged to continue developing projects in the country to ensure its energy supply for economic development.

At the reception for Karan Bhatia, Vice President for Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google, Lam emphasised that Google and its partners’ continued expansion of operations in Vietnam reflects the country’s increasingly importance to both consolidating the supply chain and developing the market for the group’s products.

Pledging favourable conditions for US firms to operate in Vietnam, he called on Google to continue guiding its suppliers to expand investment and business activities in the country, and help local companies improve their capacity and join in its supply chain.

He applauded Google’s cooperation proposal on training AI manpower, and asked it to work with the Vietnam National Innovation Centre, agencies, institutes, and schools in the country to carry out concrete and fruitful projects to practically benefit both sides.

The Vietnamese leader also highly valued the group’s cooperation proposal on cybersecurity, which is a particularly critical area as the Fourth Industrial Revolution is strongly affecting every aspect of the economy.

Bhatia affirmed Google’s commitment to the partnership with Vietnam. He announced that the firm has opened a new office in HCM City this year while its mobile phone and component manufacturing establishments in Vietnam are operating efficiently.

He expressed his hope to cooperate with the country in AI development, a sphere of Google’s strength that could be greatly useful to Vietnam.

Google is expanding skill training in the Southeast Asian nation to foster AI-related collaboration, and also giving policy advice to help facilitate AI development, Bhatia noted, adding that it expects to assist Vietnam in integrated cloud computing and AI services, and step up cybersecurity collaboration.