Google, Facebook meetings rumoured for Vietnam party chief’s US agenda

To Lam’s trip to the United States has not been formally announced, but officials said he would travel there on Saturday to speak at the UN

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Vietnam’s President To Lam is scheduled to meet representatives of Google and Meta in his first trip to the United States since he was became president in early August. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 4:30pm, 18 Sep 2024

Vietnam’s president and ruling Communist Party chief To Lam is set to meet representatives from several US corporations, including Google and Meta, during a visit to the United States next week, two people briefed about the plans said.

Meta’s Facebook has in the 100-million-people country, one of its largest user bases worldwide, and Google makes its smartphones there through suppliers and plans a large data centre, according to reports last month.

In his first trip to the United States since he was named in early August as head of the party, the country’s most powerful job, Lam is scheduled to meet representatives of Google and Meta, the two people said, with one noting each of the companies would have a separate meeting with him. Neither said what will be discussed.

Another two people familiar with the plans said Lam will also attend on Monday a business forum with other US business representatives.

All the four sources declined to be identified because the information was not public.

Google makes its smartphones in Vietnam through suppliers and is planning a large data centre there. Photo: Reuters

The US-Asean Business Council (USABC), which is one of the organisers of the September 23 event, declined to share a list of participants.