A Perspective on the Development of US-Vietnam Relations

Remarks by Le Van Bang, Ambassador of Vietnam to the United States at the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Program in Washington, D.C.

From 1979 to 1985 nothing happened in our relations but during that time we were still hopeful that the U.S. would see to some of the humanitarian issues and come to Vietnam.

By 1991 the road map was worked out. We had withdrawn from Cambodia already. The road map was not necessary but the U.S. State Department wanted to carry out the road map and I understand that at that time President Bush worked hard to improve our relations but he could not overcome those obstacles. And in 1992 before going out of office, President Bush allowed U.S. companies to set up offices in Vietnam hoping that later on they could do business.

When President Clinton took office we know that he took a very courageous decision to lift the embargo against Vietnam in 1994. And in 1995 he announced the establishment of relations.

The relations between our countries still have some issues at the moment but we now have an annual consultation between the State Department and the Foreign Ministry of Vietnam now going on. We have a dialogue on human rights between our two countries and we work very well on narcotic issues to prevent drug smuggling as well as other areas between our two countries. I think that diplomatic relations are going well, but we do not yet have state visits.

We have a military to military relationship, this we consider to be a modest relationship between our two countries. We should go step by step as these are very difficult and sometimes sensitive relations.

The United States has one billion dollars invested in Vietnam already and one billion in trade both ways for the last three years. About two hundred companies are using offices and businesses in Vietnam, and we have the trade agreement ahead. I think that the potential for economic trade is not realized yet, but there will be better trade and investment in Vietnam for U.S. companies ahead.

I would like to say that relations between our two countries depend on many factors, but first I must say that Vietnam always wanted to be friendly with the United States. In 1945 we worked with the United States against the Japanese. In 1978 we wanted very much to have normalized relations with the United States and we missed it. And from1986 up until now we are working very hard and we got it. So Vietnam sees that in the future we will have to work with the United States because we look to the U.S. for economic relations, for technological help, for management skill, and for funding for our economy. In the future, for a country like Vietnam it is not going to be easy to develop without the U.S.. I also think that it would always be better for the U.S. to have a relationship with Vietnam, because the United States thinks that better relations can help with peace and stability in the region, and can help business in the region that would be a benefit for American citizens.

Relations between our two countries are always influenced by outside factors, by relations between the United States and Russia, Japan, France, China, and many others, and I hope that this time around relations between our two countries will not be influenced by outside events and this will merit a result. And I think that the statements made by President Clinton, by Senator John Kerry, by Senator McCain, and Secretary Albright that the United States wants Vietnam to be stable and prosperous is a statement that all the Vietnamese people desire and want to be implemented.

(transcribed by Tim O’Loughlin)

Late Breaking News

Monsoon Floods Smash Indochina

September 14th reported that unprecedented floods had left about 600,000 people homeless in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. At least 88 people had died in Cambodia and eight in Vietnam in floods and tropical storms since July, when seasonal rains came. The level of the Mekong River where it runs through the capital, Phnom Penh, was higher than at any time in the past 70 years.

In Geneva, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies appealed for $1.13 million in international aid to help some 600,000 people left without homes or land by the floods. In a statement, the group said unusually widespread monsoon floods also are affecting major rice-producing areas of central and southern Laos, where at least four provinces have been badly affected and face food shortages.

To provide, or to obtain, updated information on the destruction and about the response by private and governmental organizations, send an e-mail to usindo@igc.org or write to the FRD