Socialist Republic of Vietnam

A high–ranking Delegation of the Ministry of National Defense of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam headed by General Pham Van Tra, Minister of National Defense paid an official visit to the United States from November 10-12, 2003 at the invitation of United States Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. The Delegation was warmly welcomed with the highest protocolary level extended to a Defense Minister.

This visit is to reciprocate the visit to Vietnam in March 2000 by the then U.S. Defense Secretary, Mr. William Cohen. Since the normalization of the relationship between the two countries in 1995, this is the first time that the Minister of National Defense of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam visits the United States.

During the visit, Defense Minister Pham Van Tra held talks with his US counterpart, Mr. Donald Rumsfeld on bilateral defense ties and international issues of mutual concern.

Defense Minister Pham Van Tra also met with the leadership of the State Department and the National Security Council, General Richard Meyer - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Mr. Jerry Jennings, Deputy Assistant to Secretary of Defense on POW/MIA.

The talks and discussions between Defense Minister Pham Van Tra the U.S. Government officials took place in an atmosphere of friendliness, frankness and mutual understanding for the promotion of defense relations of the two countries, contributing to the formation of a framework for lasting and stable frienship and cooperation for peace and development between Vietnam and the United States in the new millenium.

The Delegation also visited the National Defense University in Fort McNair and the Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia. The Delegation concluded its visit on the afternoon of November 12, 2003, departing the United States on an official friendship visit to the Federative Republic of Brazil.


Washington, D.C., November 12, 2003