Strengthening comprehensive cooperation on key pillars with the state of Oregon, USA

Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan and his delegation met with Governor Tina Kotek (third from right) on May 14 in Salem, the capital of Oregon. (Source: Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco)

During the visit, the delegation met with Governor Tina Kotek, President of the Senate, Minister of Justice, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Minister in charge of civil service, Director of the Department of Agriculture and many other senior leaders.

Notably, on the morning of May 14, the Consul General and his delegation were introduced at the Oregon House of Representatives Plenary Session.

Oregon is a very special state, designated by the federal government as the focal state to promote the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam (CSP) and the Vietnamese American community in Oregon is active and participates actively in the local political system with a total of 5/60 Representatives and 1/30 Senators.

Market opening message and strategic vision

On the morning of May 16, with the active coordination of the Vietnam-US Partnership Initiative (UVA), Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan delivered an important policy speech at the Vietnam-US Trade Dialogue in Portland, highlighting the message and commitment of senior leaders on opening the trade and investment market and Vietnam's long-term development vision.

Speaking to local politicians, the diplomatic corps and the Oregon business community, the Consul General emphasized: “We meet at a time when global trade is strongly restructuring. Vietnam, with its deep integration foundation, young population, improved investment environment and green development orientation, is not only a reliable partner, but also a strategic destination for Oregon businesses."

He highlighted five pillars that will help Vietnam become a regional manufacturing and innovation hub: stable growth, a comprehensive FTA network, modern logistics infrastructure, a transparent investment ecosystem with a young, proactively integrated workforce and consumer class.

Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan and his delegation met with President of the Oregon State Senate Rob Wagner (fourth from left) on May 14 at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem City. (Source: Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco)

In particular, Vietnam is implementing unprecedented, far-reaching reforms: Streamlining the apparatus, drastically reducing provincial administrative units, eliminating overlapping regulations, promoting digital transformation, prioritizing science and technology, education and infrastructure. Along with that is a private economic development strategy and a double-digit growth target, aiming to basically become a developed industrial nation by 2045.

The Consul General emphasized: “Vietnam and the US have a comprehensive strategic partnership. We wish to build a harmonious, fair, and sustainable trade relationship with the US, taking into account the characteristics of Vietnam as a developing country." He affirmed that this is a favorable time to promote two-way cooperation. Not only goods and services from Oregon to Vietnam, but Vietnamese goods are also gradually penetrating deeper into the Oregon market.

Education: Connecting knowledge, building the future

On the same day, Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan and the delegation had a key working session at Oregon State University (OSU) – one of the leading public research universities in the US. During the meeting, the delegation discussed with many representatives of OSU with the aim of promoting cooperation in training and academic research between OSU and leading training institutions in Vietnam, in the context that both sides prioritize investment in education, science and technology.

OSU Board Chairman Jayathi Murthy and representatives of specialized faculties introduced the areas in which OSU has strengths and is ready to cooperate with Vietnam, including artificial intelligence (AI), computer science, high-tech smart agriculture, environmental engineering, clean energy, healthcare and biotechnology, and robotics technology.

Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan affirmed: “Vietnam considers education and technology as two pillars to realize its development aspirations, and cooperation with pioneering universities like OSU is the key to building a high-quality workforce that deeply integrates into the global economy."

The delegation visited some of the university's modern engineering laboratories and Robotics Center, especially the Huang Collaborative Research Complex - which is being expanded to house one of the two most powerful supercomputers in American universities donated by Jensen Huang - President and CEO of NIVIDA to OSU, serving AI research and development, climate change simulation and clean energy development.

OSU expressed its commitment to expanding scholarships for Vietnamese students, increasing exchanges of lecturers and researchers, and planning to send a delegation to Vietnam in 2025 to promote the signing of new cooperation agreements, especially in the fields of AI, robotics and sustainable development.

Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan speaks at the Vietnam-US Trade Forum on the morning of May 16 in Portland, Oregon. (Source: Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco)

Agriculture: From Trade to Sustainable Development

On May 14, Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan and his delegation had an in-depth meeting with Ms. Lisa Hanson, Director and several officials of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, to strengthen agricultural cooperation between Vietnam and Oregon in terms of trade, technology and sustainable development.

At the meeting, the two sides discussed the possibility of expanding the import and export of key agricultural products. Vietnam expressed special interest in high-quality Oregon products such as cherries, blueberries, hazelnuts, wheat, beef, and wine – products that are increasingly popular in major cities in Vietnam. In return, Oregon expressed interest in typical Vietnamese products such as coffee, cashews, seafood, and processed wood furniture.

Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan emphasized: “Vietnam wishes to expand cooperation with Oregon not only in trade but also in agricultural technology innovation, human resource training and sustainable supply chain development. Oregon's environmentally friendly and quality-focused production model is very suitable for Vietnam's green agricultural development orientation."

The two sides affirmed to continue to make efforts to promote two-way agricultural trade promotion activities, coordinate the organization of seminars and field surveys, thereby creating a solid foundation for long-term cooperation in the agricultural sector - a strategic pillar in the Vietnam-Oregon relationship.

Technology: Connecting the creative ecosystem

On the evening of May 15, within the framework of the Oregon Trade Gala, Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan had direct discussions with many leading technology enterprises in the state of Oregon. The meetings focused on promoting the connection of the innovation ecosystem between the two sides, and shared about potential areas of cooperation such as artificial intelligence (AI), renewable energy, biotechnology - healthcare, digital education and application software.

“Vietnam is emerging as a manufacturing and technological innovation hub in Asia, combining competitive costs, a young workforce and sustainable development policies,” the Consul General emphasized. He encouraged Oregon businesses to explore and realize market opportunities in Vietnam, especially through two-way cooperation models and joint ventures with local partners.

Next, at the Vietnam-US Trade Forum, the Consul General continued to emphasize the role of technology in bilateral cooperation. He shared about the strong wave of investment from leading corporations such as Google, NVIDIA, Samsung, Intel in Vietnam. Not only because of the labor advantage, these corporations see great potential in Vietnam for digital infrastructure, high-tech supply chains and rising innovation capacity.

“Vietnam is no longer just a manufacturing location, but is becoming a true innovation destination,” he affirmed. “Connecting Oregon businesses and the Vietnamese technology ecosystem will not only expand the market, but also build a foundation of trust, accompanying each other in the global digital era."

Trade: Mutual opportunity - harmonious benefits

At the Seminar, providing information on the potential for extensive cooperation between Vietnam and the state of Oregon, in the context of Vietnam emerging as one of the most dynamic and potential markets in the Asia-Pacific region, Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan stated that with a population of about 100 million people, a young workforce, an expanding middle class and increasing consumer demand, Vietnam is an attractive destination for quality and innovative products from Oregon.

Four areas were particularly emphasized by the Consul General:

High-end processed agricultural products : Items such as fresh fruit, Pinot Noir wine, specialty grains and beef from Oregon are increasingly popular in Vietnam thanks to their superior quality and consumer trends towards clean products with clear origins.

Clean Energy Technology : Vietnam is in the midst of a green transition, creating huge demand for battery technology, smart grids, electric vehicle infrastructure, and energy storage solutions – areas where Oregon companies have clear strengths.

Education and educational technology : The demand for international training cooperation, online learning platforms, STEM education and flexible training models is growing rapidly in Vietnam.

Healthcare and medical technology: Vietnam is investing in expanding its healthcare system, creating opportunities for Oregon businesses in the fields of medical equipment, diagnostic technology and hospital management.

The Consul General affirmed: “Vietnam is reforming strongly to create a transparent, effective and stable investment environment. We are committed to accompanying businesses. The Consulate General is a solid foundation for Oregon companies to access and develop in the Vietnamese market."

Brigadier General Jenifer E. Pardy and representatives of the Oregon National Guard had lunch with the delegation of Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan in Salem City on the afternoon of May 14. (Source: Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco)

Non-traditional defense cooperation

On May 14, the Consul General and his delegation attended the Oregon National Guard Day celebration at the State Capitol and had a working lunch with Brigadier General Pardy, Director of the Joint Staff of the Oregon National Guard.

During the exchange, Brigadier General Jenifer E. Pardy emphasized that the Oregon Guard has maintained effective cooperative relations with a number of units of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense since 2012 under the US State Partnership Program (SPP).

The Oregon National Guard leader introduced non-traditional cooperation contents that the US National Guard and some units of the Vietnamese military such as the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department have been implementing, notably humanitarian assistance, disaster response training, search and rescue, and rapid response capacity building.

The Oregon Guard shares its experience in organizing a military-civilian coordination model, as well as its role in handling state emergencies and providing international humanitarian assistance.

Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan highly appreciated the practical cooperation results that the Oregon Guard has supported Vietnam over the past decade. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Consulate General in San Francisco will continue to act as a bridge to support maintaining contact, promoting dialogue and facilitating work programs, professional exchanges and delegations between the two sides.

Strengthening cooperation in the field of non-traditional defense not only contributes to emergency response capacity and human security but also sustainably consolidates the multi-layered, intertwined cooperative relationship between Vietnam and the state of Oregon as well as the United States.

Looking to the future

Commenting on the results of the visit, Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan affirmed: "The trip not only helps clarify cooperation priorities between Vietnam and the state of Oregon, but also contributes to strengthening trust, promoting specific initiatives and deepening cooperation in many areas."

Notable results include exchanges and increased mutual understanding, contributing to the following cooperation focuses: Promoting the signing of memorandums of understanding between Oregon State University and major Vietnamese universities in areas such as artificial intelligence, environmental science and smart agriculture; enhancing cooperation in sustainable agricultural production, raw material area development and technical support; expanding market access for two-way goods and services, preparing for Oregon's Trade Mission in Fall 2025.

In addition, the visit contributes to unlocking the potential for cooperation in high technology, digital education and green transformation; enhancing the exchange of expertise and experience in the fields of emergency response and humanitarian assistance.

The relationship between Vietnam and the state of Oregon is now at a stage of more substantial, sustainable and cohesive development than ever before. This is an important foundation for both sides to work together for long-term benefits and an inclusive, balanced future.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/cung-co-hop-tac-toan-dien-tren-cac-tru-cot-trong-yeu-voi-bang-oregon-my-314816.html