US embassy cable - 05HANOI919

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000919 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/BCLTV; EAP/RSP; DRL 
 
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR E. BRYAN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, PGOV, KIRF, OVIP, ETRD, VM, WTO, RELFREE, HUMANR, APEC 
SUBJECT:  Vice Foreign Minister Discusses PM Visit, Religious 
Freedom and WTO in AMCHAM Speech 
 
1. (SBU) Summary:  In a recent speech to the American 
Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), Vice Foreign Minister Le Van 
Bang implied that a visit to Washington by Prime Minister 
Phan Van Khai was almost a sure thing.  He described steps 
Vietnam has already taken to overcome the hurdle of 
designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for 
religious freedom violations.  He emphasized that WTO 
accession is Vietnam's top foreign policy goal, that the 
United States is key to this and that the GVN would do all 
in its power to move the process forward by late June when 
he expects the Prime Minister to be in Washington.  Among 
the deliverables for the visit is a bilateral framework 
agreement on assistance.  In response to a question, the 
Vice Foreign Minister said that the GVN does not want the 
Agent Orange issue to "slow down" development of the 
bilateral relationship.  Finally, Bang indicated that, for 
Vietnam, the upcoming East Asian Summit is not seen as 
serious competition for a well-established institution like 
APEC.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U) Vice Foreign Minister Le Van Bang gave a wide ranging 
talk on U.S. - Vietnamese relations at an AMCHAM lunch on 
April 19.  In addition to AMCHAM members, representatives of 
the diplomatic corps, NGOs and the press were in the 
audience.  The remarks were off the record. 
 
Diplomatic Priorities:  Prime Minister Visit, CPC and WTO 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
3. (SBU) A visit by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai to the 
United States in the second quarter of 2005 would be an 
important event.  Such a visit would advance Vietnam's 
efforts to join the WTO, the country's most important 
foreign policy objective.  A PM visit during the tenth 
anniversary of normalization of relations is appropriate and 
of historic importance for Vietnam in its own right.  The 
GVN has taken a number of steps during the past year to 
overcome hurdles to a visit, including addressing the 
problem of designation as a CPC.  VFM Bang was "pleased to 
report that Vietnam is not under sanction and is working to 
be removed from the CPC list."  A series of discussions with 
Ambassador for Religious Freedom Hanford in Hanoi and 
Washington had been productive, he continued.  They had 
discussed a number of actions taken by the GVN to 
demonstrate respect for religion, such as promulgating a 
religious ordnance and a decree on Protestantism; laws 
against forced renunciation of faith would be strictly 
enforced.  Bang said that Vietnam has done virtually 
everything requested by the United States.  The U.S. 
Congress needs  "binding papers" to this effect, however. 
To this end, Bang and Hanford had prepared "letters" saying 
that Vietnam had committed to carry out further cooperation 
on religious freedom and other issues. 
 
4. (SBU) Turning to WTO, Bang said that Vietnam's accession 
campaign would peak in April and May.  The GVN has had some 
success in advancing negotiations with Japan, South Korea, 
Taiwan, India, China and Australia.  Now, the United States 
is the key country.  While in Washington, Bang met with 
officials in the State Department, White House and USTR. 
All had agreed to work with Vietnam.  Vietnam now has to 
come up with a very good offer for a bilateral meeting early 
in May, as well as the coming multilateral in Geneva, in 
order to move the U.S. bilateral market access talks forward 
by the end of June.  Vietnam realizes it has to improve its 
offers on telecommunications, finance, banking and 
distribution.  The Vice Foreign Minister said he is aware 
that USTR will consult with U.S business on all of these 
areas.  Moreover, Vietnam is committed to passing 
legislation required by the WTO.  The Chair of the National 
Assembly legislative committee has given assurances that 
there would be something concrete on paper this year. 
 
5. (SBU) Returning to the PM visit, Bang said that he is 
happy that the White House was "receptive" to a visit in 
June.  Tentatively, the PM would travel to Washington, 
Boston, New York and Seattle.  Bang is still working out the 
details and would probably return to the United States at 
the end of May.  He noted that a visit would likely produce 
a joint statement and agreements on economic cooperation 
(note: a framework agreement for U.S. assistance, now in 
Washington for final approval), scientific cooperation, 
maritime transportation, adoptions and agriculture. 
Contracts would be signed; there would be good news for New 
York Life, ACE, AIG and Boeing, among others.  There would 
also be a framework for the long-term relationship in many 
areas including human rights, diplomacy and humanitarian 
activities.  He asked U.S. business to work with the GVN to 
make the visit a success. 
 
6. (SBU) The Swiss Ambassador asked about the respective 
roles of U.S. veterans groups, the business community, 
religious groups and Vietnamese Americans in a PM visit. 
Bang replied that veterans groups, especially veterans in 
Congress, are very important for Vietnam in establishing and 
developing the relationship.  The GVN would continue to meet 
with them and foster cooperation in accounting for MIAs. 
There are extensive efforts to improve relations with 
Vietnamese Americans.  He mentioned the recent visits of 
former South Vietnamese Vice President Nguyen Cao Ky and 
Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh and his large group of 
followers.  The latter visit had been an "extraordinary 
event."  Further amnesties of prisoners could be expected in 
April or May.  Overall, the trend in bilateral relations is 
up; WTO accession and the Permanent Normal Trade Relations 
(PNTR) vote in Congress are the next critical steps.  If the 
PM visit goes ahead, it also would be a high point in U.S.- 
Vietnam relations. 
 
7. (SBU) An NGO representative asked if humanitarian issues, 
including the after-effects of the War -- such as Agent 
Orange -- would come up.  Bang said that there is already 
good work on unexploded ordnance being done by U.S. groups 
such as the VVAF, as well as other help for the handicapped. 
Agent Orange is an important and sensitive issue for 
Vietnam.  The GVN is committed to taking care of victims. 
However, it is not involved in the civil suit in U.S. 
courts.  Moreover, the GVN does not want Agent Orange issues 
to "slow down" development of the bilateral relationship. 
 
APEC and Regional Architecture 
------------------------------ 
 
8. (SBU) Changing the subject, an AMCHAM staffer asked if 
Vietnam would be prepared to host APEC in 2006, given the 
enormity of the logistics burden.  Bang replied that the GVN 
is working hard to prepare for this important task.  The 
Foreign Ministry is responsible for coordinating this event, 
and planning is underway.  Based on the success of ASEM, the 
outlook is positive.  Asked if Vietnam sees any conflict for 
the role of APEC posed by the upcoming East Asian Summit, 
Bang said no.  APEC is an important, well-established 
institution that addresses economic subjects and an 
expanding list of other specific issues such as counter- 
terrorism.  The Summit is still a work in progress.  APEC is 
the "real one."  Bang fielded a question on a bilateral 
trade agreement under negotiation with China.  He said that 
this is intended to give China an equal ability to export to 
and invest in Vietnam as that enjoyed by the G-7 countries. 
Finally, he answered a question about Vietnam's wish for a 
more important and active global role in the future and 
whether this would force it to "choose sides."  Bang said 
no.  Vietnam would continue to be friendly toward all, hard 
as this is at times.  The country is ready for a stint in 
the UN Security Council in 2008-9 and, at some point, would 
even consider participating in international peacekeeping 
operations. 
MARINE