Huan Qiu Shi Bao (The Global Times) re-ran the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s communiqué on President Triet’s scheduled visit and quoted comments by major large news agencies like Reuters and AFP as saying this is a milestone visit.

The paper said that trade and economics will be given top priority during President Triet’s visit, who is accompanied by representatives from hundreds of Vietnamese businesses. On the occasion, enterprises of the two countries are expected to sign many big trade contracts.

Huan Qiu Shi Bao also quoted a senior economist from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Hanoi as saying Vietnam attaches great importance to building trade and economic relations, while developing political relations is very important to the US.

Many US companies consider Vietnam a promising investment destination in Southeast Asia. Currently, the US has become Vietnam’s largest export market with two-way trade turnover reaching nearly US$10 billion in 2006.