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US welcomes Vietnam minister for financial talks days after Putin check outs Hanoi

The U.S. welcomed Vietnam's planning and financial investment minister on Tuesday for talks on improving financial cooperation, and stated ties were stronger than ever, days after Hanoi upset Washington by hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The State Department said today's discussion would cover financial security, semiconductors, the financial investment climate, digital economy, the online world, energy, and vital minerals. Last year, Washington upgraded U.S.-Vietnam ties to a detailed. tactical partnership.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Vietnam last. week drew sharp U.S. criticism. Washington subsequently said it. would stay concentrated on deepening ties with Hanoi as the U.S. works to counter competition with China.

The U.S. is to decide by July 26 on whether to raise. Vietnam to market-economy status, which would minimize punitive. anti-dumping tasks set on Vietnamese imports offered its present. status as a non-market economy marked by heavy state influence.

The relationship in between Vietnam and the U.S. is as strong,. we believe, as it has ever been, said U.S. Under Secretary for. Economic Development, Energy, and the Environment Jose Fernandez.

He informed the opening session that U.S.-Vietnam trade was now. worth $124 billion, making Vietnam the U.S.'s ninth largest. partner in trade in products.

Attending to Vietnam's Minister of Planning and Investment. Nguyen Chi Dung, Fernandez stated U.S. service were really. delighted, about Vietnam however included:

We have to keep in mind while investors are bullish on. Vietnam, we want to ensure that they have the regulatory and. decision-making environment ... they need in order to. continue their growth in your country.

In January, Fernandez stated in Vietnam that 15 U.S. companies, consisting of semiconductors firms, had actually revealed. interest in investing $8 billion in Vietnam in tidy energy. infrastructure, contingent on the country's progress on. renewable resource rules.

Vietnam wants to bring in chipmakers and boost its sustainable. energy sector but has struggled to adopt rules to permit. growth of its solar and onshore wind industry and advancement. of offshore wind farms.

On Monday, the U.S. boosted Vietnam's ranking on a human. trafficking report while mentioning concerns Hanoi had actually failed to. launch examinations into government officials complicit in. trafficking criminal offenses.

Hanoi has actually warned that preserving non-market economy status. would be very bad for bilateral ties.

U.S. steelmakers, Gulf Coast shrimpers and honey farmers. oppose an upgrade, but it is backed by U.S. sellers and some. other organization groups.

(source: Reuters)