Prime Minister receives US Secretary of State

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung meets with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Ha Noi yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thong Nhat

Dung, on behalf of Vietnamese Government and people, welcomed Clinton to Viet Nam on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the normalisation of Viet Nam – US diplomatic relations. He thanked the US Government for its assistance to HIV/AIDS projects. The Prime Minister said he believed that ASEAN efforts, together with the contribution from the US, would work to guarantee regional security. He also asked the US Government not to apply trade barriers including anti-dumping duties on Vietnamese imports.

Expressing her honour to be in Viet Nam for this special occasion, Clinton confirmed that US President Barack Obama was committed to increasing bilateral relations, in which the countries would focus on increasing relations in economic, trade, investment and medical sectors, as well as combating the effects of climate change. Clinton said she would be in Ha Noi again this October for the East Asia Summit and to prepare for US President Barack Obama's visit to Viet Nam next year.

With respects to the East Sea, Clinton said relevant countries should co-operate on the basis of international laws, adding that the US supported a long-term solution for the issue.

Foreign Minister meeting

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem yesterday received Clinton during her attendance at ASEAN meetings.

Khiem and Clinton agreed that the two countries' relations in the past 15 years had recorded significant achievements which have helped contribute to peace, security, stability and development in the Asia – Pacific region.

The two sides agreed to continue increasing their economic relations, which is crucial to boosting the development of bilateral ties between the countries. They also discussed building a strategic partnership that would be able to respond to climate change. Viet Nam asked the US Government not to impose trade barriers, including anti-dumping duties, on Vietnamese imports, and to recognise the country's market economy soon. Viet Nam also asked the US to increase its aid to help combat the effects of Agent Orange/dioxin in the country.

On the same day, Minister of Justice Ha Hung Cuong and Clinton signed a co-operation framework between the two Governments on HIV/AIDS aid.

Khiem yesterday also received Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoglu, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon.

Khiem and Davutoglu were pleased with the continuously developing bilateral relationship between their countries and they discussed the solutions for further improvements of multi-faceted bilateral relations.

During his reception with Russian Foreign Minister, Khiem said he appreciated the active participation of Russia in the activities of the ASEAN Regional Forum and was glad to see that Russian-ASEAN relations were improving.

On this occasion, Khiem and Lavrov also signed a co-operation plan between Vietnamese and Russian foreign ministries for the 2011 – 12 period.

In the meeting between Khiem and Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon, the two sides agreed to push bilateral negotiations in order to sign the Viet Nam – Canada Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement.

Normalisation of ties

The celebration of the 15th anniversary of the normalisation of Viet Nam – U.S diplomatic relations was organised by the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the American Chamber of Commerce in Ha Noi. Khiem and Clinton attended the ceremony.

Fifteen years ago, then US President Bill Clinton and then Vietnamese Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet announced the normalisation of diplomatic relations between the countries. For the past 15 years, with the continuous efforts of both Governments and nations, the Viet Nam – U.S relationship has progressed both bilaterally and multilaterally.

Khiem recalled the great developments in bilateral trade relations since 1995, which has increased 30 fold. This achievement was made possible by the signing of the Bilateral Trade Agreement, the Permanent Normal Trade Relations, and Viet Nam's accession to into the WTO, Khiem said.

Clinton expressed her pleasure at Viet Nam's active developments since her first visit in 2000 when she was then with her husband, President Clinton. — VNS