HANOI, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The United States, which is currently Vietnam's 6th largest investor, is set to become its number one investor in the next two years, said President of the U.S.-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Trade Council Matthew Daley.

    Daley made the statement at a meeting with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai in the capital of Hanoi capital on Nov. 1, local newspaper Vietnam News reported Friday.

    The trade council leader is on a visit aimed to explore investment opportunities in Vietnam and inaugurate the council's representative office in the city.

    Hai said Vietnam always facilitates conditions for foreign investors, including long-term U.S. investors, to do business in Vietnam. He applauded U.S. firms have expressed their interest in Vietnam's posts, telecommunications, healthcare, technology and other fields.

    This year, two-way trade between Vietnam and the United States is estimated at 12-13 billion U.S. dollars, the newspaper said.