US Senators Praise Vietnam’s Growth, Pledge Support For WTO Bid
Vietnam’s President Tran Duc Luong (R) and Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith
The US senators who are on a visit to Vietnam have praised the country’s social and economic achievements and its efforts to improve democracy.
The seven-member delegation led by Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith met with Vietnam’s President Tran Duc Luong and Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dzung in Hanoi Monday, the second day of their visit which aimed to discuss trade with the Vietnamese government.
The senators affirmed their support for Vietnam’s efforts to integrate into the global economy and become a member of the World Trade Organization.
They spoke highly of Vietnam’s transformation if its economy from centrally-planned to market-driven.
Sen. Smith stressed that co-existence in peace and prosperity would be the future of the two countries.
During the meeting, President Luong asked the senators to help accelerate the negotiation between Vietnam and the US on the former’s WTO admission.
Luong also requested the US legislators to help push the US houses for granting Vietnam the permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status.
The US delegation, including Oregon Sens. Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden, Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott, Utah Sen. Robert Bennett, Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning, Texas Sen. John Cornyn, and Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, are scheduled to leave Vietnam tomorrow.
Vietnam is the last leg of the US Senate delegation’s Asia trip which kicked off December 5. Other stops included China, Thailand, and Cambodia.
(Reported by Xuan Danh – Translated by The Vinh)
Story from Thanh Nien News
Published: 12 December, 2005, 21:51:33 (GMT+7)
Copyright Thanh Nien News
