Asean president and prime minister

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) delegation at the Government Headquarters on March 22. The attendees were leaders of the Government Office and the ministries of Planning and Investment, Industry and Trade, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Transport, Information and Communication, Health, Agriculture and Rural Development, Culture - Sports and Tourism. Also in attendance were the State Bank of Vietnam, the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council President and CEO Ted Osius, the U.S. Ambassador in Vietnam Marc E. Knapper. The leaders of more than 50 leading enterprises in the U.S. and the world were there too, including AES, Netflix, Boeing, Apple, Coca-Cola, Pfizer, Abbott, Visa, Citibank, Meta, Ford, and FedEx Express. The Prime Minister welcomed the USABC and the U.S. business delegation to Vietnam, and the delegation members joined a frank, sincere and effective working session with Vietnamese agencies. This is a continuation of previous … [Read more...] about Vietnamese Prime Minister receives delegation of the US-ASEAN Business Council

President Vo Van Thuong (R) hosts Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – President Vo Van Thuong hosted a reception in Hanoi on March 21 for Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn, who is in Vietnam for an official visit and co-chairing the 20th meeting of the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Commission on Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technological Cooperation. Thuong expressed his belief that Cambodia will successfully organise its general election in July 2023, and reap more achievements in building a country of peace, independence, democracy and prosperity. Congratulating the neighbouring country on its successful ASEAN Chairmanship 2022, the State leader wished the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 32), which Cambodia is hosting in May, a success, and stressed that Vietnam stands ready to share its experience … [Read more...] about President Vo Van Thuong hosts Cambodian official

We are facing a challenging business environment on a global scale. How do you evaluate the support the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) has and the wider Vietnamese business community? Arsjad Rasjid, chairman of ASEAN BAC 2023 In our country we have something called Indonesia Incorporated, where the government and the private sector work together. This is very important and, at the ASEAN level, we should have an ASEAN Incorporated, where the governments and the business community work together. This is because there are multiple challenges. For instance, we have 280 million people in ASEAN. If we didn’t have the public and the private sectors working together, we would not have been able to solve issues like carrying out mass vaccinations during the pandemic. If we work together on ASEAN connectivity, on energy for example, we can maintain our security with this synergy. We are a $3.2 trillion economy. However, with more efforts towards ASEAN … [Read more...] about Vietnam can enhance its role further within ASEAN

PM Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a working session with a delegation of the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) in Hanoi on March 22, during which he said Vietnam wants to promote its comprehensive partnership with the US in a practical, effective, equal and mutually-beneficial manner. The delegation comprised leaders of over 50 leading US and world businesses like Netflix, Boeing, Apple, Coca-Cola, Pfizer, Abbott, Visa, Citibank, Meta, Ford, Fedex Express, among others. PM Chinh affirmed that Vietnam always considers the US one of the top important partners, adding that the Vietnamese Government always stays ready to listen to the US firms to deal with difficulties in the spirit of harmonising benefits and sharing risks. He said Vietnam is carrying out three strategic breakthroughs, including building and fine-tuning institutions, reforming administrative procedures and training human resources, … [Read more...] about Vietnam wants to further promote comprehensive partnership with US: PM

At the torch-lighting ceremony (Photo: AKP/VNA) Phnom Penh (VNA) – The torch relay for the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA Games) and the 12th ASEAN Para Games began in Cambodia on March 21, with 45 days to go to the events. Cambodian King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, accompanied by Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and many other senior officials and Siem Reap province’s authorities, presided over the torch-lighting ceremony held at the famed Angkor Wat temple Siem Reap. The torch was then carried, circling Angkor Wat, and on March 22, it will leave Cambodia to tour other Southeast Asian nations and Timor Leste before returning to Cambodia and going around the Tonle Sap River till May 5 when the SEA Games - ASEAN Para Games officially open. The torch measures 75 centimetres in height and one kilogramme in weight. Its top is designed to reflect Romdoul, Cambodia’s national flower. This is a sign of solidarity, friendship, and good … [Read more...] about SEA Games 32: Torch relay begins in Cambodia

Senior executives from 52 US firms are taking part in the biggest business mission ever organised by the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) to Vietnam this week as the two countries mark the 10-year anniversary of their Comprehensive Partnership (2013-2023). Ted Osius, president and CEO of the USABC, noted US firms have an increasing interest in ASEAN, especially in Vietnam, amid global economic difficulties, adding this is a vibrant and growing area. “American companies are seeing strong trends in the expansion of a global manufacturing hub and supply chain in Vietnam in such industries as semiconductors, fast-moving consumer goods, agriculture, the digital economy, finance, and healthcare. The US business community is also seeing renewed interest to cooperate in the aerospace, defence, and security sectors,” said Osius. Among them, Elon Musk's SpaceX is looking for opportunities to develop the satellite internet service market in Vietnam and the region in general. … [Read more...] about Largest-ever US trade delegation seeks more trade and investment

At a Wednesday meeting between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the delegation of the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (USABC), the council's president Ted Osius said U.S. businesses consider Vietnam a strategic market and are ready to commit to long-term investments in the Southeast Asian nation. Osius said the delegation were highly supportive of the Vietnamese government’s moves towards a more digital and green society. He also encouraged steps the country has taken in infrastructure development, such as the construction of new highways and metro rail public transit options, the Vietnam Government Portal reported. U.S. ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper said the American grouping at the meeting was the largest U.S. business delegation to ever visit Vietnam. He said this confirmed the commitment of the U.S. government and the private sector to support a strong and prosperous Vietnam via cooperation. At the meeting, the delegation proposed new ideas and opportunities for business … [Read more...] about Major US companies laud Vietnam as strategic market

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and delegates of the US-ASEAN Business Council in Ha Noi on Wednesday. —VNA/VNS Photo Duong Giang The Vietnamese Government will continue to create favourable conditions for US businesses to expand investment in Viet Nam and support Vietnamese enterprises participating deeply in the production value chain of US enterprises. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered this statement during a working session with the delegation of the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) in Ha Noi yesterday. The PM said that Viet Nam considered the US one of its most important partners and wanted to deepen the comprehensive bilateral partnership. He also praised the US business community's production and investment activities in Viet Nam, saying that the Vietnamese Government was willing to listen to the US businesses' opinions. The PM noted that the Vietnamese Government would accompany US businesses to solve difficulties and successfully implement their investment … [Read more...] about Viet Nam promises optimal conditions for US enterprises: PM

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (right) welcomes Indonesian President Joko Widodo as he arrives in Istana for the Singapore -Indonesia Leaders' Retreat on March 16. (Photo: straitstimes.com) Singapore (VNA) – Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on March 16 said that Singapore and Indonesia are ready to cooperate in new areas, as the two countries signed agreements on energy, sustainability, health, and human capital development. Speaking at the 6th Singapore-Indonesia Leaders’ Retreat, the PM said the bilateral relations are in excellent order and that they are ready to break new ground in fresh areas of cooperation that are deep, multifaceted, forward-looking, and mutually beneficial and will make a difference to future generations. The two countries signed six agreements covering emerging areas such as the digital economy, sustainability, and human capital development, and traditional areas like security, health, and finance. Among the agreements, the … [Read more...] about Singapore, Indonesia tighten cooperation in energy, sustainable development, health care

"It's pretty remarkable, and it really does show the commitment of the U.S. and U.S. companies to this market and to this relationship," U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper told reporters Tuesday. "We see tremendous potential and actual business being done and the prosperity generated from it." This week, executives from 52 U.S. companies are meeting with top Vietnamese officials, including Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, to discuss regulatory issues and investment opportunities. The grouping of corporations is the largest U.S. business delegation to ever visit Vietnam. American executives are keen explore opportunities in one of the fastest-expanding economies in the world, where GDP growth reached 8.02% last year. U.S.-ASEAN Business Council President and former U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius said the large delegation signifies an ever-increasing interest in ASEAN countries compared to past eras. "This part of … [Read more...] about US companies show ‘remarkable’ commitment to Vietnam: Ambassador