Socialist Republic of Vietnam

FOREIGN MINISTER REITERATES VIET NAM'S COMMITMENT TO RENEWAL PROCESS


New York, Sept. 18 (VNA) -- Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien has renewed Viet Nam's commitment to press ahead with the process of renewal and its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance and openness to diversify and multilateralise its external relations.

"The new cabinet approved by the National Assembly at its first session indicates Viet NamẸs continued commitment to the renewal process," FM Nien stressed.

He said, "Viet Nam is striving to step up industrialization and modernization and proactively engage the world in a bid to turn the country into an industrialized nation by the year 2020."

FM Nien made the statement at his meeting with US Non-Governmental Organizations in New York on Sept. 17, which was also attended by Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Somsavat Lengsavat and Cambodian Senior Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong.

"We will continue to pursue a foreign policy of independence, sovereignty, multilateralization and diversification of external relations. Viet Nam is willing to be a friend and reliable partner of all countries in the international community, striving for peace, independence and development," he told the participants.

FM Nien, who has been in New York for the 57th session of the UN General Assembly, said, "The enactment of the Bilateral Trade Agreement marks the full normalization of relations between Viet Nam and the U.S. and opens up a new stage of development."

"It should be noted that since the BTA went into effect last December, our bilateral relations have deepened and expanded to new fields. Some Vietnamese exports, such as aqua-products, garment and textiles, have increased significantly," he added.

FM Nien emphasized, "The two-way trade has grown by 50 percent since the enactment of the BTA, bringing more choices of better quality Vieitnamese goods to American consumers. With time and tide, Vietnamese consumers and producers will also be able to benefit from products of high quality imported from the U.S."

"The Government and people of Viet Nam always treasure the goodwill and valuable assistance of U.S. NGOs extended to us. Hundreds of U.S. NGOs had been active in Viet Nam even long before the lifting of the US embargo against Viet Nam and the normalization of relations between the two countries, helping Viet Nam with projects in poverty reduction, support for the disabled, health care, education and humanitarian and emergency assistance," he noted.

FM Nien went on to say, "We look forward to your continued active contributions to healing the wounds of the war and promoting our bilateral relations. In this regard, I would like to call on US NGOs to help victims of the Agent Orange. According to unofficial statistics, at present, of the over two million Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange, hundreds of thousands are struggling with deadly diseases including cancer, mental disabilities and birth defects."

"Tens of thousands of Vietnamese children, who are the offspring of victims of Agent Orange, are disabled, deformed, and mentally retarded. Viet Nam and the U.S. are working with each other in conducting research programmes on the impacts of Agent Orange and Dioxin," FM Nien told the meeting.

"However, victims of Agent Orange and Dioxin cannot wait for research outcomes. They need material support to survive. The Vietnamese Government has mobilized humanitarian assistance from domestic and external sources, including assistance provided by U.S. NGOs. In this partnership, we welcome and appreciate your contributions to the Fund for Victims of Agent Orange in the Vietnam War with a view to helping the victims," the Vietnamese FM emphasized.--Enditem