Vietnam’s WTO talks making progress; U.S. official
Vietnam is "making progress" on its negotiations for membership to the World Trade Organization, remarked U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick before his visit to Vietnam on May 5.
The two-day stop in Vietnam is part of Mr. Zoellick’s 10-day Southeast Asian tour that also includes Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines, according to the U.S. State Department.
In Vietnam, the U.S. State Department's No. 2 official will observe the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
"The Vietnamese have been very interested in strengthening its overall relationship with the United States; economics is one of the drivers, but there are also some strong security interests," Mr. Zoellick said.
He will travel to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and meet with Vietnamese officials including Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Cong Phung.
The diplomat will also officially announce U.S. aid in HIV/AIDS prevention for Vietnam on May 6.
His agenda also includes a meeting with U.S. businesses, as well as a roundtable conference themed “Vietnam’s Development” in HCMC.
This is the first visit for Mr. Zoellick to Vietnam as a U.S. deputy secretary of state. During his tenure as U.S. trade representative, Mr. Zoellick worked with Congress to enact the Vietnam Trade Agreement.
(Reported by Xuan Danh – Translated by The Vinh)
Story from Thanh Nien News
Published: 05 May, 2005, 20:42:13 (GMT+7)
Copyright Thanh Nien News
