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Skriven 2006-11-17 23:31:06 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0611174) for Fri, 2006 Nov 17
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Joint Statement Between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the United
States of America
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 17, 2006

Joint Statement Between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the United
States of America


˙˙˙˙˙ APEC 2006 ˙˙˙˙˙ President's Trip to Southeast Asia

President Nguyen Minh Triet of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam was
pleased to welcome United States President George W. Bush to Vietnam.
Looking back on the June 2005 Joint Statement by President Bush and then
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, both leaders expressed satisfaction at the
progress the bilateral relationship has made, resulting in a U.S.-Vietnam
relationship today that is multi-faceted and forward looking. It
encompasses significant and growing trade and economic ties, an emerging
military-to-military relationship, successful cooperation on health and
development issues, growing cultural and educational links, a commitment to
resolving remaining issues stemming from the war, a shared interest in
ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region, and
frank and candid discussion of differences. The two sides reaffirmed their
efforts to ensure that bilateral relations are stable, constructive,
broad-based, and conducted on the basis of sovereign equality and mutual
benefit.

President Triet and President Bush applauded the historic milestone of
Vietnam's accession to the World Trade Organization and President Bush
reiterated his firm support for the earliest possible Congressional
approval of Permanent Normal Trade Relations. President Triet confirmed
that Vietnam would fully uphold the rules-based trading system embedded in
the WTO and join other members in their efforts to create a level playing
field based on fairness, openness, and transparency. He welcomed President
Bush's assurances that the United States would maintain open access to the
U.S. market and support Vietnam's process of integration with the world
economy. The two leaders anticipated an even greater amount of bilateral
trade and investment, benefiting the people of both nations. President Bush
also welcomed the Vietnamese leadership's determination to accelerate the
course of doi moi reforms, build the rule of law, and combat corruption,
and held that such efforts are important for Vietnam's economic vitality
and favorable business and investment climate. The two Presidents also
looked forward to the signing of a Maritime Transport Agreement at an early
date to further accelerate growth in our vibrant economic relationship.

President Bush and President Triet discussed the growing cooperation
between the United States and Vietnam to address regional and global
concerns. President Bush welcomed Vietnam's active engagement in
international affairs aimed at maintaining peace, cooperation and
development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world, and noted his
appreciation of Vietnam's support for a denuclearized Korean Peninsula and
the consensus views of the UNSC as expressed in UNSCR 1718. President Triet
welcomed the reconvening of the Six Party Talks and expressed the hope that
a peaceful solution for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula would
be reached.

The two leaders pledged to increase cooperation to halt the proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction and related technology and materials in
accordance with international and national laws and each country's
capacities. They also pointed to the agreement on nuclear fuel replacement
at the Dalat Research Reactor, and the signing of a Memorandum of
Understanding between the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Vietnam's
Ministry of Public Security, as examples of the diverse ways in which the
two countries are working together to protect the safety and security of
their peoples and others in the region.

The two leaders looked especially to cooperation on the health front as an
example of the tangible benefits of the United States and Vietnam working
closely together. President Bush praised Vietnam's timely, effective, and
transparent response to avian influenza in the country, which has prevented
any further human outbreaks in Vietnam since October 2005. He noted that
Vietnam's efforts were a model for the region, and pledged continued U.S.
support in responding to the threat of avian influenza. As Vietnam is one
of the focus countries for President Bush's PEPFAR initiative on HIV/AIDS,
the United States and Vietnam have also worked closely together to combat
the scourge of this disease. The two leaders agreed to further strengthen
the present positive cooperation. President Triet praised the work of the
STAR initiative in Vietnam and the extension of this activity. President
Triet also expressed appreciation for the U.S. Government's increasing
development assistance to Vietnam and urged the U.S. side to increase
humanitarian assistance including through cooperation on areas such as
unexploded ordinance and continued assistance to Vietnamese with
disabilities. The United States and Vietnam also agreed that further joint
efforts to address the environmental contamination near former dioxin
storage sites would make a valuable contribution to the continued
development of their bilateral relationship.

President Bush explained the National Security Strategy of the United
States, which stresses the importance to world peace and stability of the
development in every country of full respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms. President Triet apprised President Bush of recently
promulgated laws and regulations on religious freedom that are to be
implemented in all localities of Vietnam. The two leaders also noted the
importance of continuing to make progress in the bilateral human rights
dialogue and reaffirmed that it should be conducted in a comprehensive,
constructive and results-oriented manner.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction with progress on resolving
outstanding issues from the war and agreed that the two sides would
continue cooperation in this respect. President Triet reaffirmed his
Government's continued efforts to assist the United States to ensure the
fullest possible accounting for Americans who remain missing in action,
through both joint and enhanced unilateral actions. President Bush
reaffirmed U.S. contributions to help obtain information on Vietnamese MIA
cases.

Presidents Triet and Bush discussed cooperation in regional affairs, and
President Bush praised Vietnam's hosting of APEC this year as a
demonstration of Vietnam's active and important role in promoting trade and
economic liberalization and strengthening security in the region. President
Triet noted the robust engagement by the United States with ASEAN, and
looked towards increasing that cooperation through the U.S.-ASEAN Enhanced
Partnership. The two leaders pledged continued efforts to seek mutual
understanding on issues of regional and global concern.

The two leaders noted the importance of high-level visits between the two
countries to the development of Vietnam-U.S. relations in the future.
President Bush invited President Triet to visit the United States in 2007
to continue these discussions; President Triet thanked President Bush and
accepted the invitation with pleasure.

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