Mr Dung told his guest that the Vietnam-US relationship has developed well on the basis of positive friendship, mutual respect and multifaceted cooperation. He noted with satisfaction the effective investment and trade ties between the two countries, saying bilateral trade reached US$15 billion in 2008 and the US was one of Vietnam’s top 10 foreign investors.

He proposed that the US work closely with Vietnam to address climate change, combat crime and overcome the consequences of the past war, including searching for personnel missing in action, clearing unexploded landmines and assisting Agent Orange/dioxin victims.

He said that effective cooperation in education will help strengthen bilateral ties, given the fact that more than 10,000 Vietnamese students are studying in the US.

The Vietnamese government leader thanked the US for its effective assistance to Vietnam’s HIV/AIDS prevention campaign. He also appreciated McCain’s role in promoting cooperative ties between Vietnam and the US as well as in carrying out charity programmes in Vietnam, including free surgery for children with disabilities.

For his part, McCain congratulated Vietnam on its significant achievements in national construction and development and vowed to do his utmost to strengthen multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

The same day, McCain was received by National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong, who said that the two legislative bodies should increase their cooperation to bring bilateral ties to new heights.  

Mr Trong proposed that McCain play an active role in lobbying the US administration to recognise Vietnam’s market economy status soon and encouraging more US entrepreneurs to do business in the Southeast Asian nation.

He conveyed his regards and invitation to visit Vietnam to Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives.

Senator McCain spoke highly of the Vietnamese legislative body’s renewal programme, especially live broadcasts of its question time, demonstrating democracy and transparency. He voiced his support for increasing economic and trade ties between the US and Vietnam.

McCain stopped over in Hanoi on April 6-7 during his week-long Asian tour. After Hanoi, he will fly to Tokyo and Beijing.

Press briefing

At a press briefing held in Hanoi the same day, McCain said that he was impressed by Vietnam’s achievements, as well as the rapid development of bilateral trade ties since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1995.

The US is Vietnam’s 10th biggest foreign investor and it wants to improve this position, said McCain. He expressed hopes that bilateral cooperation would be promoted in many other areas.  

The US Senator said that the new administration of President Barrack Obama and Secretary Hillary Clinton plans to improve cooperative ties with Vietnam. He suggested that the two countries cooperate closely in assisting dioxin victims and clean up the dioxin-contaminated areas. According to the Senator, the US has spent about US$46 million assisting Vietnamese dioxin victims and dealing with contaminated areas.

He also said that the US is committed to facilitating trade liberalisation despite the global economic crisis and that the US administration is working on a possible free trade agreement with Vietnam.