Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Washington, June 21 (VNA) -- Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam has urged the U.S. to remove existing obstacles to further enhance bilateral friendship and equally and mutually beneficial cooperation with Viet Nam.

The U.S. also asked to completely waive the Jackson-Vanik amendment for Viet Nam, not consider the promulgation of the draft Viet Nam Human Right Act, and to provide support for Viet Nam's accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

These requests were made by Deputy PM Cam during his June 16-19 working visit to the United States, where he met with National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, acting Secretary of State Richard Armitage, acting Secretary of Commerce Samuel W. Bodman, Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Stephen Hadley and a number of U.S. congressmen.

Deputy PM Cam stressed the need to design fast-track procedures to solve disputes arising during the course of implementing the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) between Viet Nam and the U.S. The business circles of both sides should be provided with favourable conditions to fully understand the legal system and business environment in the other country, the Vietnamese leader noted.

A memorandum of understanding on the U.S's technical assistance programme to Viet Nam was also signed during the visit.

The U.S. affirmed its willingness to cooperate with Viet Nam in carrying out the BTA and to support its efforts to join the WTO. They also agreed on the establishment of fast-track procedures to address disputes arising during the course of exercising bilateral trade.

Deputy PM Cam told U.S. officials and congressmen that the U.S. should be responsible for helping Viet Nam overcome the consequences of toxic chemicals sprayed by the U.S. Military during the war in Viet Nam. The U.S. was requested to implement humanitarian programmes to assist victims exposed to toxic chemicals and deformed children whose parents had been exposed to Agent Orange and other poisonous chemicals sprayed by the U.S. Military, and to decontaminate heavily affected areas.

U.S. officials and Congressmen showed their understanding of outstanding bilateral trade issues and held that the two sides should, through direct and constructive negotiations and confidential building measures, find solutions acceptable to both sides for addressing their differences.

All these contacts were conducted in an atmosphere of honesty and transparency.--Enditem

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June 19 (VNA) -- An agreement on cooperation between Viet Nam's Ministry of Planning and Investment and Texas state of the U.S. has been signed in Texas in the precence of Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam and leaders of Texas state.

The signing took place during Deputy PM Cam's working visit to Texas from June 13-16. Mr.Cam was accompanied by leading officials of some ministries and a group of Vietnamese businesspeople.

The agreement, initiated by the Governor of Texas state, is the first cooperation agreement Viet Nam signed with a state of the U.S., which will serve as a legal basis for the two sides to develop trade and investment cooperation. It can be the beginning of cooperation between Viet Nam and states of the U.S. - a way to effectively implement the Viet Nam-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement.

During his stay in Texas, the first leg of the visit to the U.S., Deputy PM Cam and his delegation visited the Motorola telecom group, Dell computer firm and Unocal and Conoco oil groups.

Leaders of these groups said that they will invest more in Viet Nam, especially in oil and gas industry and construction of power plants in the Mekong delta and southern provinces.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment and Texas Department of Agriculture exchanged views on possibilities for their cooperation in cotton growing and processing and garment and textile export.

The Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Vietnamese businesses met with the Chambers of Commerce of Austin and Houston cities and the business circle in Texas. The Texas side was interested in Viet Nam's achievements in the renovation process, especially improvement in its investment environment and policy, as well as preferential investment projects that Viet Nam introduced at the meeting.

Deputy PM Cam also called at some universities in Texas, including the Centre for Viet Nam Studies in the Texas University of Technology.--Enditem