Vietnam-US relations enter new stage; Deputy PM
Relations between Vietnam and the US have begun a new era, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan remarked on the groundbreaking US visit by PM Phan Van Khai.
PM Khai’s trip, which kicked off yesterday June 20 in Seattle, marked the first ever visit by a Vietnamese leader to United States since the end of the Vietnam war
Speaking on CNN's live interview on June 20, the Deputy PM reaffirmed Vietnam’s policy to shelve the past and look towards the future.
It is time for Vietnam and the US to build a partnership, Khoan stressed.
Deputy PM Khoan said he expected that the meetings between PM Khai and President George W. Bush would involve straightforward and friendly talks about the general relations between the two countries.
He hopes the talks will establish stable and cooperative relations that benefit not only Vietnam and the US, but also Asia and the Pacific.
Open door to WTO
The Deputy PM also stressed the importance of joining the WTO for Vietnam’s development as Vietnam's economy depends greatly on the nation's relationships with other countries.
Vietnam has completed bilateral talks with 10 countries, including the EU and Japan, he said, adding that bilateral negotiations with the US a week ago had also achieved substantial progress.
The door to the WTO is now wide open to Vietnam, said Deputy PM Khoan.
(Reported by Xuan Danh – Translated by The Vinh)
Story from Thanh Nien News
Published: 21 June, 2005, 11:20:00 (GMT+7)
Copyright Thanh Nien News
