(Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac)

At the meeting, the Prime Minister said the Vietnamese government always listens to opinions and wishes of foreign investors, and understands and shares with them difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

PM Chinh said a special working group of the Prime Minister has been established, with the task of removing obstacles for businesses and people.

A resolution on assistance to businesses in the face of the pandemic will also be issued next week, he said, adding that the Vietnamese government has studied a plan on economic recovery and adaptation amid COVID-19. PM Chinh asked ministries, agencies and localities to take measures to assist businesses and investors, particularly foreign firms, in this difficult period to ensure safe, smooth production and supply chains.

Vietnam wants to further promote the comprehensive partnership with the US, Prime Minister Chinh said, expressing his thanks to the US government and people for their donations of vaccines and medical supplies to Vietnam in the pandemic fight.

He affirmed Vietnam’s aim of vaccinating employees soon and that the country is working hard to realize the vaccine strategy.

Representatives of several US firms briefed PM Chinh on their operations in Vietnam, and raised proposals related to maintaining supply chains, transporting goods, organizing production activities, granting work permits, domestic movement of experts, access to vaccine sources and administrative reforms.

They spoke highly of Vietnam’s strategies and measures to combat the pandemic while maintaining production and circulation of goods, saying they will make efforts to observe the measures.

Klein and representatives of the US businesses showed their desire to continue to further step up investment and business activities in Vietnam, and believed that with the joint efforts of the governments, businesses and people of both nations, Vietnam and the US will overcome difficulties caused by the pandemic soon.

They also expressed their confidence that the comprehensive partnership between the two countries will grow and flourish in a more substantive and effective manner across fields, in which economic and trade ties will remain an important pillar.