US embassy cable - 04HANOI3301

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 003301 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV and H 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, KIRF, ECON, ETRD, EINV, OTRA, VM, HUMANR, IPROP, RELFREE 
SUBJECT:  Congressman Chabot Meets with Foreign Ministry, 
National Assembly Representatives 
 
1. (SBU) Summary:  Congressman Steve Chabot met separately 
December 13 with Vice Foreign Minister Le Van Bang and 
National Assemblyman Vu Xuan Hong.  Representative Chabot 
thanked Vietnam for its efforts in the fullest possible 
accounting of MIA's and urged the GVN to take further steps 
to advance this cause; described the problems U.S. 
businesses have with sudden increases in Vietnam's taxes and 
tariffs, the inability to get business licenses and a lack 
of intellectual property rights protection; and underlined 
the importance of human rights and religious freedom to 
Americans.  Responding in familiar terms, VFM Bang and 
National Assemblyman Hong described Vietnam's efforts to 
reform its economy; stressed that Vietnam is making progress 
in the area of human rights and religious freedom (with VFM 
Bang promising "positive developments" soon); and urged 
Congressman Chabot to vote in favor of Permanent Normal 
Trade Relations for Vietnam.  End Summary. 
 
Vice Foreign Minister Le Van Bang 
--------------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) Congressman Steve Chabot (R-OH) had separate 
meetings December 13 with Vice Foreign Minister Le Van Bang 
and National Assembly Foreign Relations Committee Member Vu 
Xuan Hong.  DCM, Pol/C and Control Officer (A/PAO) also 
attended both meetings.  VFM Bang opened his meeting with 
Congressman Chabot by observing that Asia in general and 
Southeast Asia in particular are growing in importance to 
the United States.  Vietnam's desire is for the United 
States to pay "sufficient" attention to the region.  With 
several regional groupings and formulations in play, such as 
APEC, ASEAN+3 and the East Asia Summit, both China and Japan 
are jockeying for position.  Coordinating the various 
developments and problems in Asia requires leadership, and 
Vietnam believes that the United States "can play a 
constructive role."  Ultimately, the most important thing is 
to "keep things stable and peaceful."  To that end, ASEAN 
seeks to become an engine of growth and development in the 
region, VFM Bang said. 
 
3. (SBU) U.S.-Vietnam relations, in spite of the two 
countries' "inherited history," are moving ahead positively, 
such as in the areas of economics, humanitarian cooperation, 
diplomacy and security.  Vietnam's Minister of Defense 
visited Washington, D.C., in 2003, and there have been two 
U.S. Navy ship visits to Vietnam over the past year. 
Vietnam is looking forward to sending its Prime Minister to 
the United States on the occasion of the tenth anniversary 
of normalization of relations.  This will be cause for 
"celebration."  Vietnam also hopes that the United States 
will strengthen even further its support for Vietnam's WTO 
accession.  Finally, Vietnam is aware that the United States 
has some "requests" related to human rights and religious 
freedom.  For its part, Vietnam pays attention to these 
issues and America's concerns, and VFM Bang expressed his 
hope that there will be "good news" in these areas. 
 
4. (SBU) The United States would welcome a visit by the 
Prime Minister, Congressman Chabot responded, and creating 
the right atmosphere for the visit requires continued 
progress in a number of areas.  For example, the American 
people consider the fullest possible accounting of those 
killed during the war to be of the utmost importance, and 
anything the GVN can do to continue forward would be greatly 
appreciated.  The GVN has done a great deal so far, and 
these efforts have gone a long way towards improving 
bilateral relations, the Congressman said. 
 
5. (SBU) Trade relations are also heading in the right 
direction, Representative Chabot continued.  Some 20 percent 
of Vietnam's exports go to the United States, and this sort 
of trend is good for both the United States and Vietnam. 
However, some American businesses have difficulties getting 
licenses, face sudden increases in taxes and tariffs or 
cannot protect their intellectual property rights.  These 
kinds of issues will cause U.S. companies to think twice 
about investing in Vietnam.  VFM Bang responded that, 
through the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), and Vietnam is 
moving forward with legal reform and is "more or less" on 
the right track, VFM Bang said. 
 
6. (SBU) Human rights and religious freedom are two other 
areas in which Americans have a great deal of interest and 
concern, Congressman Chabot continued.  Although there have 
been improvements in Vietnam, there is room for further 
improvement.  VFM Bang promised that there would be "more 
positive developments" in these areas.  For example, Vietnam 
will "soon" have the implementing regulations for the new 
Ordinance on Religion, the Vice Foreign Minister said. 
 
7. (SBU) Vietnam and the United States share many interests. 
For example, both nations are concerned about where China is 
going.  Furthermore, among the 1.5 million ethnic Vietnamese 
living in the United States, some want to return to Vietnam 
to "help with its development," and this is another factor 
drawing the United States and Vietnam closer together.  VFM 
Bang concluded by asking Congressman Chabot's support for 
Vietnam's Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) when it 
comes up for a vote before Congress. 
 
National Assemblyman Vu Xuan Hong 
--------------------------------- 
 
8. (SBU) During a separate meeting December 13 with Vu Xuan 
Hong, a member of the National Assembly's Foreign Relations 
Committee, Congressman Chabot raised the issues of tariffs, 
difficulties in getting business licenses and lack of 
protection for intellectual property rights as impediments 
to increasing U.S. investment.  Hong responded that Vietnam 
has made the important -- and difficult -- decision to move 
from a planned economy to a free market economy, and it will 
take time to see improvements in every area.  However, 
Vietnam can only go forward; it cannot go back.  Although 
there will be "gaps" between Vietnam's will and ability to 
implement this will, the GVN is trying to create a better 
environment for investors.  Vietnam is grateful for the 
support of the United States and other donor countries in a 
myriad of projects to help the country to develop further, 
Hong said.  Vietnam hopes that the United States will be 
able to play an even greater role and provide more 
assistance, Hong said. 
 
9. (SBU) Responding to Representative Chabot's thanks for 
and comments about fullest possible accounting cooperation, 
Hong said that Vietnam's leadership understands the 
importance of this "sensitive humanitarian issue." 
Vietnam's support for these efforts will continue not for 
political reasons but because of the "humanitarian 
dimension." 
 
10. (SBU) On the subject of human rights and religious 
freedom, Hong responded to Representative Chabot's concerns 
by noting that these are also important "values" for the GVN 
and Vietnamese people.  However, because of Vietnam's 
history and traditions, Vietnam has a different way of 
looking at these issues.  The best way for the United States 
and Vietnam to overcome their differences is to increase 
understanding through dialogue.  Efforts by the U.S. 
Congress to pass human rights legislation make the 
Vietnamese "nervous" and "surprised."  In addition, the 
United States never seems to be concerned about Communists 
who are in jail, but when a Buddhist monk or Protestant 
believer is imprisoned for "breaking the law," it becomes a 
bilateral issue.  Hong expressed his hope that Americans and 
others understand better the situation in Vietnam, and, for 
its part, Vietnam wants to use dialogue to increase mutual 
understanding.  Hong concluded by noting that the National 
Assembly is making efforts to strengthen its role in 
society, but that this will take time.  In the meantime, 
efforts by both the National Assembly and U.S. Congress to 
increase visits and exchanges between the two can help to 
deepen understanding and improve relations. 
 
MARINE