Secretary Anthony Foxx

Boeing-Vietnam Airlines Signing Ceremony of a Memorandum of Collaboration
Washington, D.C. – July 6, 2015

Mr. General Secretary, I am honored to meet with you and your delegation today and to welcome you to the United States. And to the Boeing team, let me congratulate you for delivering to Vietnam Airlines’ its first 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.

As it turns out, this jetliner has already created its fair share of news, and all over the world, too.

There’s a video of it doing a flying display – demonstrating a near-vertical takeoff – that’s been viewed more than 11 million times. It already has some people excited about booking a trip with Vietnam Airlines. And I’ll say: I’m eager to fly in it too. But as impressive as it was to see, I’ll have to take a pass on actually experiencing a takeoff like that.

What is really exciting about today, though, is that the relationship between Boeing and Vietnam Airlines is just getting started. Today they’re signing a memorandum of cooperation in which they’re agreeing to expand their relationship and to do more business together. This is a partnership that will create goods jobs and economic growth in the United States. And this will be a result of supporting Vietnam Airlines’ goal to modernize its fleet and to have the safest, most reliable aircraft.

My point is: This is a win for the United States and for Vietnam, as well. And we see this as a milestone in our efforts to deepen our ties with Vietnam through bilateral trade.

This year marks 20 years since the United States and Vietnam re-established diplomatic relations. This is an important year for our countries – and we’ve already achieved a lot this year.

But I know we can accomplish even more in the future, including by opening up the possibility that the Vietnamese people can fly directly to the United States. Because we know this can allow for more trade, tourism, and business travel. This can continue to grow the relations between the United States and Vietnam. The U.S. will continue working with Vietnam on aviation safety – it’s a priority for us.

Ultimately, the relationship our countries have is built on respect, and the knowledge that our futures are intertwined in the global economy. So I look forward to celebrating more victories like one. And I look forward to one day seeing Vietnam Airlines flying Boeing aircraft into U.S. airports, and knowing that our governments and businesses worked together to make it happen.

Thanks very much.

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