On the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on October 26, 2025, Minister of Industry and Trade of Viet Nam, H.E. Nguyen Hong Dien held a bilateral meeting with U.S. Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jacob Helberg. Joining the Minister were representatives from the Department of Multilateral Trade Policy, the Department of External Market Development, the Electricity Authority, and the Industry and Trade Newspaper.

During the meeting, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien and Under Secretary Jacob Helberg discussed economic and trade cooperation between Viet Nam and the United States, as well as potential areas for enhanced collaboration. Both sides shared the view that despite various challenges, the overall Comprehensive Strategic Partnership continues to grow positively. The year 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations (1995–2025) and the second anniversary of the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework (2023–2025). This milestone is not only significant but also a vivid testament to the remarkable progress of Việt Nam–U.S. relations, opening a new stage of deeper, more substantive, and strategic cooperation.

Deputy Secretary Helberg expressed interest in exploring cooperation potential in artificial intelligence (AI), supply chain resilience, and the development of new energy sources. Minister Nguyen Hong Dien affirmed that AI is not merely a technology but a driving force to enhance productivity and national competitiveness. He emphasized that Việt Nam seeks practical cooperation tied to training, standardization, and technology transfer. The Minister noted that Viet Nam has adopted policies to prioritize and encourage innovation, expressing a desire to learn from and collaborate with developed partners such as the U.S. He also stated that the Ministry of Industry and Trade stands ready to explore potential cooperation with the U.S. in this area.

Regarding supply chains, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien highlighted that Viet Nam has been implementing numerous programs and policies to diversify input sources for its manufacturing sectors. In the energy sector, the Minister briefed the U.S. side on Viet Nam’s energy development policies and called on the US to continue supporting Viet Nam in developing large-scale renewable and new energy projects associated with green financial mechanisms and technology transfer.

In addition, he raised Viet Nam’s concerns over the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s decision not to grant equivalence recognition to 12 seafood harvesting methods.This move threatens livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of labourers, undermines the international reputation of Vietnam’s seafood industry and limits supply options for US consumers. The Vietnamese minister also urged the U.S. to consider Viet Nam’s request for early recognition of its market economy status and to remove Viet Nam from the D1 and D3 lists, which restrict exports of high-tech products. The US side took note of the proposals and said they would be carefully considered.

Concluding meeting, both sides agreed to assign technical teams to study the feasibility and plans for cooperation to continue discussions in the future.

Source: Compiled by the Multilateral Trade Policy Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade of Viet Nam