 The second round of trade negotiations between Vietnam and the United States begins on May 19, 2025 (local time) in Washington D.C, the United States. (Photo: VGP) |
The Vietnamese delegation is led by Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, who is also head of the Government negotiation team.
On Monday, the first day of the talks, the Vietnamese and US delegations discussed an overall approach to resolving fundamental issues of mutual concern and accelerating the negotiation process.
They exchanged views in an open, straightforward, and constructive manner on the issues of mutual interest, working to clarify the draft agreement's wording and providing information on current policies of each side to lay the groundwork for further steps.
 Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien works with Westinghouse. (Photo: VGP) |
During Monday’s working session with Westinghouse, one of the world’s leading nuclear technology corporations, Minister Dien said that Vietnam intends to restart its nuclear power program to ensure energy security amid rising electricity demand and the current limitations of renewable energy sources.
He emphasized that Vietnam will take a prudent, modern, and practical approach, noting the country has several promising sites for nuclear power development, which provides a stepping stone for cooperation with international partners such as Westinghouse. This includes both large-scale nuclear power projects and small modular reactors (SMRs).
Energy cooperation will also be an important driver for balancing bilateral trade, the minister affirmed.
Margaret Cosentino, Executive Vice President of Westinghouse, expressed strong support for Vietnam’s plans and stressed the importance of long-term energy cooperation.