The US delegation, led by officials from the State Department and US trade representatives, comprised delegates from the departments of Commerce, Treasury and related agencies.

From December 15 to 18, the two sides reviewed and exchanged views on the content of the agreement. The talks will help create a foundation for more practical discussions at the next round of negotiations, scheduled to take place in Hanoi by the end of the first quarter of 2009.

Meanwhile, investors in the northeastern coastal province of Quang Ninh asked Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung for permission to build a 300-meter harbor, a coal-fired thermoelectric plant and additional infrastructure facilities requiring total investment of approximately US$1.4 billion.

The request was made during Dung’s visit on Monday to Hai Ha District and Mong Cai Town to inspect progress on the Hai Ha industrial zone seaport project and in the Mong Cai border-gate economic zone.

Source: VNA