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US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice visits Vietnam

VNGOVNet - On November 15, 2006, Ms Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State of the United States of America, arrived at Hanoi beginning her visit to Vietnam on the occasion of her attending the 18th APEC Ministerial Meeting.

November 16, 2006 8:41 PM GMT+7

Photo: VNGOVNet

On November 16, 2006, Ms Rice had talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Phạm Gia Khiêm on bilateral issues, including preparations for a official visit to Vietnam by President Bush as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern.

At their talks, the two sides were satisfactory of the recent improvement in bilateral relations, agreeing that promoting bilateral economic and trade ties and cooperation in humanitarian affairs, tackling war aftermaths and development would be focuses in the two countries' relations in the coming period. They also agreed to sustained dialogue over issues of difference.

Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs Phạm Gia Khiêm expressed his appreciation for the US State Department's removing Vietnam from its list of "Countries of Particular Concern" over religious freedom and asked the Department to keep pushing the US Congress to pass the Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status soon for Vietnam. He wished a continued cooperation between the two sides to deepen their constructive, friendly and cooperative partnership in many areas in line with the principle of equality, mutual respect and common benefit.

By Quang Vinh