Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Prime Minister Phan Van Khai will make a historic visit to the U.S. soon, the first by a Vietnamese leader in 30 years, to mark 10 years since the two countries resumed diplomatic ties, a diplomat confirmed recently.

Speaking in an interview with Thanh Nien, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Van Bang said he had just returned from a two-week trip to the U.S. in preparation for PM Khai’s visit.

The diplomat hinted that the visit would perhaps take place in two or three months.

Vietnam and the U.S. “discussed ways to finish their negotiations [regarding Vietnam’s bid to join the World Trade Organization] in two or three months so that they can announce the completion during the prime minister’s visit,” he said.

Vietnam and the U.S. officially announced normalization of relations on July 11, 1995.

The best in 30 years

While in the U.S., Mr. Bang met with senior officials of the U.S. Department of State, Department of Transportation and President Office including Republican Senator John McCain.

The U.S. side rates current Vietnam-U.S. relations as “the best in the last 30 years from all political, diplomatic and economic views,” said Mr. Bang, who was the first Vietnamese ambassador to the U.S. after the Vietnam War.

During their talks, the officials also hoped that PM Khai’s visit would help the two countries “create a framework for a stable, long-lasting and comprehensive relation,” he stressed.

In November 2000, Bill Clinton became the first U.S. President to visit Vietnam as his term was nearing to an end.

WTO talks

Lobbying for U.S. acceleration of negotiations on Vietnam’s WTO bid was also another target of Mr. Bang’s visit.

According to him, the U.S. is still concerned with Vietnam’s efforts to revise its law systems in accordance with WTO laws as well as some particular issues like tariffs and services.

The U.S. also asked Vietnam to speed up multilateral negotiations in Geneva, he added.

On the other hand, Vietnam asked for the U.S.’ commitment to support Vietnam’s WTO bid politically, and urged the U.S. to accelerate bilateral WTO talks, Mr. Bang said.

In general, “we understand more clearly and more specifically what the U.S. wants,” he concluded.

Building trust

Frequent visits, especially of senior officials, by the two countries are essential for Vietnam and the U.S. to build mutual trust, the deputy minister said.

The trust would be even stronger if the Vietnam Prime Minister and U.S. President could communicate more regularly, Mr. Bang added.

The two countries must continue their exchanges not only economically, but also culturally to beef up their ties, he suggested.

Mr. Bang also stressed the importance for Vietnam to build and maintain good relations with the Vietnamese community in the U.S.

“We need the support of this community to push Vietnam-U.S. relations in a more active direction,” he elaborated.

Vivid memory

Mr. Bang also spoke of his most memorable moment in Vietnam-U.S. relations.

“My deepest memory was in 1994 when the U.S. announced the embargo lift on Vietnam,” he recalled.

The lift was the outcome of Vietnam’s continuous struggles and promotions, and also the wishes of many people from both sides, Mr. Bang added.

On Feb. 3, 1994, Mr. Bang was in New York when the U.S. Department of State invited him to Washington, D.C.

“I knew there was going to be some kind of big event, but didn’t know exactly what,” he said.

In Washington D.C., Mr. Bang was having lunch when he received a call and learnt that President Clinton would announce the embargo lift in two hours.

“I went straight to a friend’s house, turned on the TV and watched this historic event,” he said. “It was 3 p.m. Washington time.”

(Reported by Xuan Danh – Translated by The Vinh)
Story from Thanh Nien News
Published: 17 April, 2005, 21:10:58 (GMT+7)
Copyright Thanh Nien News