During his talks with the governors of many US states, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Cuong called for their support for the ongoing negotiations on the Trans-Asia Pacific (TPP) agreement. Ambassador Cuong made his call at his meetings with the governors of the states of Wisconsin, Iowa, Delaware, Mississippi, Colorado and Utah, and leaders of the National Governors Association (NGA), on the sidelines of the NGA’s Summer Meeting that ended on August 4 in Wilwaukee city of Wisconsin state. The Ambassadors from Japan, Singapore and Peru, which are taking part in the TPP negotiations, also joined the TPP-themed talks. Ambassador Cuong urged the US governors to support the TPP agreement when it is debated at the federal and state Congresses. He added that such agreement is needed to step up regional economic integration and help the related countries fulfill their development objectives. Cuong also notified the governors of the results of President Truong Tan Sang’s recent visit to the US, including the commitments by President Sang and his US counterpart Barack Obama to accomplish the TPP agreement within 2013.

Two-way trade between Vietnam and the US has increased more than 140 percent in the past five years, of which agriculture posted a growth rate of over 200 percent, the Ambassador said, adding that these growth rates will continue to rise after the TPP agreement is signed.

Meanwhile, the US governors told Cuong that they would continue giving support for trade liberalization, which holds an important role in boosting global economic growth.

They also highly valued efforts made by Vietnam and other TPP member countries in building an agreement with highest international standards and committed to accelerating the negotiations.