US embassy cable - 05HANOI423

UNCLAS HANOI 000423 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, EINV, KIPR, PINR, VM, AFLU, IPROP 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH HANOI PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE 
CHAIRMAN 
 
1. (U) Summary: In a February 18 meeting with the 
Ambassador, Hanoi City People's Committee Chairman Nguyen 
Quoc Trieu described the city's many priorities and 
development plans and noted that the city will celebrate its 
1000th anniversary in 2010.  The Ambassador described lapses 
in intellectual property rights (IPR) protection in Hanoi 
and concerns about the failure of Government officials to 
live up to contractual agreements, highlighting the Tricore 
Third Ring Road project as an example of this.  The 
Ambassador also raised the difficulties the Protestant 
Church in Hanoi is having receiving authority to make 
improvements to its property.  Chairman Trieu proclaimed 
Hanoi has been successful in countering avian influenza. 
End Summary. 
 
2. (U) The Ambassador began the February 18 meeting by 
remarking on the difficulties the city is facing in handling 
its rapid growth and economic development.  Chairman Trieu 
described a number of the city's priorities, including 
maintaining friendly relations with other countries; 
ensuring the "spiritual and material lives" of residents are 
cared for; encouraging tourism; preventing "social evils" 
and maintaining order; developing the city's public 
infrastructure, including constructing three new bridges 
across the Red River; and attracting foreign investors. 
Trieu has received an invitation to visit California in his 
official capacity, but wants to invite the governor of 
California to visit Hanoi first.  Hanoi will celebrate its 
1000th anniversary in 2010, Trieu noted proudly. 
 
3. (U) The Ambassador agreed that Hanoi has a good image 
internationally and is well positioned to receive foreign 
investment.  Commercial interaction has increased rapidly, 
though investment from the United States lags.  One concern 
of American investors is IPR protection; counterfeit and 
pirated goods are easily available in Hanoi.  The Ambassador 
reminded Trieu that right now they could purchase pirated 
DVD'S and other goods at shops within minutes of City Hall. 
Better measures to protect IPR would make Hanoi more 
competitive in attracting investment.  Developing a good 
transportation infrastructure is also important.  Investors 
must have confidence that agreements they make in Vietnam 
will be upheld.  One American company - Tricore - made an 
agreement with the national Government to construct a ring 
road around Hanoi five years ago, but the Government has not 
lived up to this promise.  Land right issues are also 
difficult.  The city must balance the residential 
requirements of Hanoians with the need of investors to be 
able to acquire land for development.  The land law passed 
in 2004 will hopefully diminish the many problems in this 
area.  Obtaining clear title to land can also be difficult. 
For example, the Protestant Church has occupied the same 
land in Hanoi since 1918, but cannot obtain title from the 
city in order to make improvements to its property. 
Finally, addressing security concerns, the Ambassador agreed 
that Hanoi is a safe city, but stressed the Embassy must 
take significant preventative security measures nonetheless. 
The ultimate solution to the Embassy's security problem is 
relocation to a new compound.  In the interim, we are 
working with authorities to find a way to make our security 
barriers more aesthetically pleasing. 
 
4. (U) Chairman Trieu noted that this was the first time he 
had heard of the Tricore dispute.  The Hanoi ring road, as 
well as the three bridges over the Red River, are controlled 
by the Ministry of Transportation, not the city.  Further 
administrative reforms will help solve some of the problems 
foreign investors face.  The land law has only been in place 
since July, and more time is required before it can be fully 
implemented.  Responding to the Ambassador's inquiry about 
avian influenza, Trieu said that the city's measures to halt 
the disease are "our pride," and that Prime Minister Khai 
had suggested that Chairman Trieu share Hanoi's experiences 
with other provinces so that its model could be copied. 
 
5. (U) Biographic Note: Hanoi People's Committee Chairman 
Dr. Nguyen Quoc Trieu was born June 22, 1951, in Bac Ninh 
Province.  He received a medical degree in 1976, and taught 
at medical school until 1981.  Trieu studied "youth 
mobilization" in East Germany in 1981 -82, and completed a 
PhD in public health after studying in Moscow and Hanoi from 
1987 to 1994.  He was director of the Hanoi Department of 
Health from 1994 to 1999, Vice Chairman of the People's 
Committee from 1999 to 2004, and Chairman since May 2004. 
He clearly understands some English, but prefers to conduct 
meetings in Vietnamese.  End Biographic Note. 
MARINE