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Submitted by ctv_en_7 on Tue, 07/04/2006 - 13:00
In 1991, the US presented a roadmap for normalisation of relations between Vietnam and US. Deputy Foreign Minister Le Van Bang said Vietnam-US relationship have reached a new high after 15 years. If the US Congress approves PNTR status for Vietnam, this will be a final step in the process of normalising Vietnam-US relations

Deputy Foreign Minister Le Van Bang said if the US Congress approves permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status for Vietnam, this will be a final step in the process of normalising Vietnam-US relations.

He cited at least four Vietnam visits by the high-level US delegations in a year such as the first one led by the US House Speaker Dennis Hastert in April, the second one by US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld in May, the third one by US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice in late July and the fourth one by US President Geoge W. Bush in November this year. In addition, relations in the fields of economics, culture and humanity have developed well.

Mr Bang affirmed that granting PNTR status for Vietnam will bring a lot of benefits to US businesses. The Vietnamese market is now wider open than in the period after signing the Vietnam-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). That’s why US businesses have actively supported the granting of PNTR for Vietnam. Mr Bang also noted that Vietnam still has some difficulties. For example, some US officials still ask Vietnam to make further steps towards democracy, human rights and religion. “Although these issues are not related to economics, we are ready to co-operate and conduct dialogues with the US to create favourable conditions for the US Congress to pass PNTR status for Vietnam”, he said.

Since the beginning of this year, Vietnam has tried its best to promote co-operation in various fields, such as high-level exchange visits, economic and humanitarian activities, as well as friendship dialogues with US delegations inspecting the religious situation in Vietnam, Mr Bang further said.


The fact that both Vietnam and the US are willing to bring bilateral ties to a new high is creating favourable conditions for granting PNTR status to Vietnam.

Assessing economic co-operation between the two countries, Deputy Minister Bang said, this year has witnessed three important events – the Intel group’s decision to invest more than US$600 million in Vietnam; Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates’ visit to Vietnam; and Vietnam’s selection of Lockheed Martin Company to help the country launch satellites. These events show bright prospects for co-operation between the two countries, Mr Bang said.


He also noted that in the coming time, the US will open up its market to various types of Vietnamese products, such as garment and textiles, leather footwear and wood products. In the future, if the Intel group further invests in Vietnam, the country will be able to export high-grade electronic products to the US market. Vietnamese items for export to the US market may be produced by enterprises invested by the US, Japan and many other countries.


It is essential to maintain long-term co-operation with the US and set up joint ventures with foreign partners, as well as thoroughly explore the market and understand US laws and consumers’ taste. “The prospects for co-operation between Vietnamese and US enterprises are great and boundless,” Mr Bang added.

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