Socialist Republic of Vietnam

A senior diplomat expressed his belief that investment and trade volume between Viet Nam and the U.S. as well as official contacts between the two countries' administrative and legislative agencies would further increase in the future.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Tam Chien made the remarks at a reception to welcome Viet Nam's entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and full normalisation of Viet Nam-US relations, which was held in Washington D.C, on Jan. 11 .

"We will witness new forms of exchange and cooperation among artists, scientists, military personnel and civil organisations of the two countries," Chien told more than 300 guests at the event, including members of US Congress, government officials, military officers, business leaders and representatives of the Vietnamese community in the US..

He also expected that medical, educational and humanitarian cooperation will be promoted, while bilateral and multilateral relations will be intensified for the sake of global development.

"From now on, US businesses will be on equal footing on Vietnamese ground, and Vietnamese goods should no longer be treated differently and less favorably than those of other countries in the US market. We will see greater and greater trade and investment between our two countries," said Ambassador Nguyen Tam Chien.

US officials, Congressmen and business leaders hailed Viet Nam's full membership of the WTO, saying that this important event, together with the recent signing of the permanent normalisation trade relations status with Viet Nam by President George W. Bush, will take the two countries' relations to a new stage of development.
Vietnamese and US businesses will now have more opportunities for investment and development in a fair playground, they said.

The reception was held by the Vietnamese embassy in the US and an alliance of US businesses to support Viet Nam's bid to join the WTO, just one day after Viet Nam had been granted official membership to the world's biggest trade organisation.

Source: VNA

Remarks by Ambassador Nguyen Tam Chien at the January 11th 2007 Reception
In Celebrating Full Normalization of the Relations between Vietnam and the United States

(Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center Washington DC Jan.11, 2007)

Honored Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:

These are great days for Vietnam, and great days for Vietnam-US relations. Vietnam today became the 150th Member of the World Trade Organization, and Vietnam-US relations are now – finally -- fully normalized.

I am most happy to welcome some very special guests who were able to join us this evening:

- First and foremost is Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Co-Chair of the US-Vietnam Caucus, a Caucus for the new US-Vietnam partnership, and also his predecessor as Caucus Chair Congressman Rob Simmons; congratulations to Congressman Blumenauer on assuming this important responsibility, and our grateful appreciation to Congressman Simmons for the leadership that he has provided;

- I am happy also to welcome Senator James Webb, Congressman Russ Carnahan, and Congressman Joe Wilson;

- Also Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, and other representatives from the Administration;

- Leaders and representatives from the business community, particularly members of Vietnam-WTO Business Coalition;

- And of course our Vietnamese-American colleagues here with us today.

Welcome to all our friends and partners, welcome.

Please join me in celebrating this very important milestone and allow me, on behalf of the Government of Vietnam, to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who has made contributions to this long process of reconciliation and normalization: a process of making foes into friends and partners, of replanting trust and the seeds of hope for a better future for our two peoples and countries.

A decade has passed since diplomatic relations were established. We can now solemnly declare that with the advent of Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) that is signed into law by President Bush, the relationship between our two countries is at last fully normalized. This full and complete normalization is evidenced by the following facts:

- First, the ties between Vietnam and the US today are growing quickly in all fields, particularly commerce and trade;

- Second, new foundations are being consolidated in law and policy, the most important principles among them having been laid down in the first two historical Joint Statements in June 2005 and November 2006 made by the leaders of our two countries;

- And third, new cooperative mechanisms have been established in many areas and at all levels.

From now on, US businesses will be on equal footing on Vietnamese ground, and Vietnamese goods should no longer be treated differently and less favorably than those of other countries in the US market. We will see greater and greater trade and investment between our two countries; growing official contacts between our respective executive and legislative branches; and rapidly diversifying exchanges among our cultural and scientific communities, our militaries, and our citizens.Cooperation in health, education, and social welfare and other humanitarian concerns will be strengthened and deepened. Bilateral and multilateral cooperation will be enhanced on a wide range of international issues. The Vietnamese people will benefit from greater assistance from the United States, and the people of the US will discover in Vietnam a new and promising destination for business, tourism, and adventure.

From here on it is our task, together, to build a new chapter in the history of our relationship, a chapter which will realize the promise of a stable and enduring partnership between our two nations. In redoubling our efforts to move forward together, we should strive always to do so based on mutual respect, expanding economic and commercial ties and sharing interests in peace, prosperity, and security in East Asia and the Pacific. Where differences remain, and they will, we will persist together in dialogue and the search for new ways forward.

From now when Vietnam and the US are both WTO members, it is very important that the principle of non-discrimination should be always observed, especially in trade and economic fields.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Ten years ago, it was hard to imagine that in 2007 one could fly to Vietnam on United Airlines, travel our towns and countryside in a Ford SUV, stay in a Sheraton or Hilton hotel, and then have a dinner of Montana beef and Napa Valley wine. It was almost impossible to imagine that Old Navy and Gap and other stores in shopping malls all across the US would be selling fashionable clothing and top-end sportswear made in Vietnam, right next to supermarkets selling Vietnamese fruit, seafood, beer, and many other products. Who would have believed that in 2007 the United States would be the second most popular destination for Vietnamese students studying abroad? All of this, and much more, is true; and all of it is wonderful.

But not being beset by hubris, let us now continue to imagine how much further we can go in the next ten years. We are sure that the future of our relations is very bright. And I am sure that together, with the help of all of you, we have built and will continue to build a stable and durable partnership, one not just for our generation but for generations to come: so that we, and our children and their children after them, can live together in peace, prosperity, and hope.

I know that you all share that hope with me, and I look forward to continuing to work with you in engineering a bright future for us all.

Please join me in raising a toast to happy, prosperous, and enduring Vietnamese-US relations.

Thank you and Happy New Year to all of you.