On December 29, 2011, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, on behalf of the Government of Vietnam, has sent the letter indicating the country's intention to join the The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, making Vietnam as the newest implemeting partner of the Alliance. This decision was a response to the invitation by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton extended to Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Pham Gia Khiem at the Ministerial Meeting of the Lower Mekong Itiative (LMI) held in July 2011, in Bali, Indonesia,