Ambassador Kirk meets with Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem

Ambassador Kirk met this morning with Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem to discuss a range of bilateral trade and investment issues.  Deputy Prime Minister Khiem is visiting Washington to meet with Obama Administration officials and business groups in an effort to continue to advance U.S - Vietnam relations. Ambassador Kirk and Deputy Prime Minister Khiem reviewed the dynamic and growing trade and investment relationship between the two countries, and in particular their mutual interest in maintaining momentum in discussions toward a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT).  A BIT would provide additional protections for U.S. businesses investing in Vietnam and would create additional opportunities in the Vietnamese market for the U.S.. Ambassador Kirk also highlighted the importance of improving intellectual property rights protection in Vietnam.  The U.S. and Vietnam coordinate closely on trade matters under the bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, signed in 2007.