At the meeting, held on the sidelines of the 33rd APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) in Hong Kong (China), Tuan highlighted the positive and substantive progress in the Viet Nam–U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, affirming that Viet Nam’s Ministry of Finance has consistently worked to contribute to overall bilateral cooperation.

leftcenterrightdel
Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan (left) and Erin Browne, U.S. Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs, at their meeting in Hong Kong (China) on October 20, 2026 (Photo: Ministry of Finance)

As Viet Nam prepares to host APEC Year 2027, he said the country plans to propose four groups of priority issues aligned with the Incheon Plan and APEC’s vision. He expressed Viet Nam’s hope for advice, experience sharing and support from the U.S. to help finalize these priorities.

For her part, Browne spoke highly of Viet Nam’s proposed priorities and affirmed that the U.S. Department of the Treasury stands ready to work closely with Viet Nam to translate them into detailed action plans.

She also expressed the U.S. side’s desire to further deepen substantive cooperation within the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Regarding bilateral cooperation, Tuan called on the U.S. to advance technical-level negotiations on a protocol amending the bilateral tax agreement; share experience and mechanisms for screening technology in foreign direct investment projects; support Viet Nam’s position in negotiations on the Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair and Balanced Trade (ART); and soon recognize Viet Nam as a market economy.

Viet Nam consistently maintains a stable and transparent investment and business environment and creates favorable conditions for U.S. enterprises and investors to operate over the long term, he affirmed.

Tuan took this occasion to invite Browne to pay a working visit to Viet Nam and attend conferences held as part of APEC Year 2027.

Source: VNA