Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met with United States Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson in Hanoi on September 7 during Secretary Paulson's visit to Vietnam to attend the 13^th APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting.

PM Dung said he was pleased that the relationship between Vietnam and the US has achieved various good results, which particularly manifested from the US's support for Vietnam's bid to join the World Trade Organisation.

The PM affirmed Vietnam's consistent policy of boosting mutually benefited co-operation in all areas, particularly trade, investment, science, technology, education and training. He said he wished that Secretary Paulson's visit to Vietnam would help push up mutually benefited co-operation between Vietnam and the US, including the ties between the Vietnamese Ministry of Finance (MoF) and the US Department of the Treasury (DoT).

PM Dung also expressed his wish that Paulson, in his capacity as the US treasury secretary, would voice his support so that the US Congress quickly ratifies the Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status with Vietnam.

Secretary Paulson expressed his delight to visit Vietnam and to see with his own eyes the country's achievements in the renovation process. He affirmed that Vietnam has developed fine prospects and pledged to do his best in order for the US to quickly approve the PNTR bill with Vietnam.

The Secretary said he hoped that the relationship between the MoF and the DoT would progress in the future.

* Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung highlighted the World Bank's (WB) contribution to accelerating economic growth in Vietnam, particularly sustainable development and poverty reduction, while receiving Juan Jose Daboub, WB Managing Director in Hanoi on September 7.

PM Dung welcomed the WB Managing Director to visit Hanoi and attend the 13th APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting.

He said he hoped the WB would co-operate more closely and effectively with Vietnam to help the country implement its socio-economic development for the next five years, accelerate the country's international integration, particularly when Vietnam joins the WTO.

The PM stressed that despite many difficulties and challenges, Vietnam is determined to obtain its set targets and drive back corruption. He affirmed that the Vietnamese government would do its best to manage and effectively use funding provided by international finance institutions, including the WB.

The WB Director congratulated Vietnam on its achievements in the 20 years of renovation and expressed his belief in PM Dung's management of the government. 

He pledged to support Vietnam in implementing the socio-economic development targets, and overcoming challenges when Vietnam joins the WTO. He highly appreciated Vietnam's determination to combat corruption and bureaucracy, a large concern of international donors. (VNA)

* Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung highly valued the role of the ADB in providing loans for Vietnam to develop its infrastructure and capital market, conduct administrative reform and fight corruption, thus helping promote socio-economic development.

The PM expressed his appreciation while receiving President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Haruhiko Kuroda, in Hanoi on September 7.

Kuroda is in Vietnam to attend the 13th Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Finance Ministers' Meeting.

Vietnam has obtained an economic growth rate of over 7.5% in recent years thanks to assistance from international organisations, including the ADB, PM Dung said. He informed the ADB President of Vietnam's targets and main policies on socio-economic development over the next five years.

PM Dung suggested the ADB continue to provide soft loans to Vietnam, especially to its infrastructure development projects.

The PM affirmed the Vietnamese government's commitment to effectively use funding and assistance provided by international financial institutions.

The ADB President on his first visit to Vietnam in his capacity as president of the bank, expressed his pleasure to witness the comprehensive changes in Vietnam. 

He spoke highly of Vietnam's socio-economic development plan for near future and pledged to help the country implement the plan, particularly in transport infrastructure, post and telecommunications, the legal and judicial systems, finance, education and training. (VNA)