Socialist Republic of Vietnam

The first exchange of views on political and foreign policy between Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US State Department, was held on July 29 in Hanoi. The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Dinh Bin and the US delegation led by Assistant Secretary of State Stanley Roth. US Ambassador to Vietnam Pete Peterson also joined the exchange.

The two sides had a frank and open exchange on the bilateral relations. Both sides felt pleased with the agreement in principle on the terms of a Bilateral Trade Agreement reached by Vietnam and the US on July 25, 1999 and saw it as an important step to promote the two countries' economic-trade relations. The two sides discussed bilateral issues as well as the next steps to further promote their relations on the basis of mutual respect, mutual understanding and equality and in line with the two countries' interests, contributing to peace, stability, co-operation and development in Asia-Pacific. The two sides also exchanged viewpoints on issues of mutual concern.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cam received Assistant Secretary of State Stanley Roth and his delegation on July 30.

US Ambassador to Vietnam Pete Peterson held a press conference on July 30 in Hanoi to inform about the results of the negotiation on the US-Vietnam Trade Agreement. The Ambassador affirmed the significance of the results achieved by the US and Vietnam in the two countries' trade normalisation. He said that the official signing of the agreement would serve the benefit of Vietnam and US businesses as well as that of the two countries in general.

On this occasion, the Vietnam-US Business Council released a press statement, saying that the Council will co-ordinate with the US-ASEAN Business Council and some other American organisations to hold seminars on investment and trade in Vietnam. The seminars are to be held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from October 15-25.