Vietnam's Top Leader Urges US Firms to Enhance Technological Cooperation

General Secretary and President To Lam has called on U.S. businesses to enhance the quality and technological content of cooperation with Vietnam. The suggestion was made during a seminar with several U.S. business giants in New York on September 23, on the occasion of the top leader's participation in the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81). The event, jointly organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council, and business communities from both countries, saw To Lam propose three pillars for cooperation with American firms: advancing science and technology, fostering innovation, and enhancing industrial competitiveness. He urged U.S. companies to collaborate with Vietnam in building technological capacity, training engineers, experts, and managers, and supporting Vietnamese enterprises to become suppliers in global value chains. Joint efforts to develop energy, infrastructure, and green, resilient growth models were also highlighted. According to To Lam, Vietnam is promoting capital market development and the establishment of International Financial Centers in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. He encouraged U.S. businesses to launch long-term investments, venture capital, green finance, and specialized investment funds, with U.S. financial institutions playing a role in building market capacity, strengthening risk management, and developing a long-term investment ecosystem. Furthermore, the Vietnamese leader urged U.S. businesses to view Vietnam not only as a production base but also as a rapidly growing consumer market and a gateway to the ASEAN market of approximately 680 million people. Vietnam is ready to expand imports of U.S. technology products and services, while requesting the U.S. to facilitate fair and transparent market access for Vietnamese goods and businesses. Welcoming investments from major technology corporations and efforts to enhance the science and technology content of cooperation, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), To Lam stated Vietnam's determination to advance AI in its new development phase, while promoting responsible AI development and use for the benefit of people, businesses, and organizations. Following the seminar, the Vietnamese leader witnessed the signing and handover of contracts and cooperation agreements between Vietnamese and U.S. agencies and businesses in areas including digital transformation, high technology, AI, aviation, green energy, healthcare, and telecommunications.