Bush, Vietnamese PM Meeting Focuses On Greater Cooperation
Tuesday June 24th, 2008 / 21h57
By Maya Jackson Randall Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- U.S. President George W. Bush and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said their Tuesday meeting - which touched on education, environmental, economic and religious freedom issues - should help strengthen cooperation between the two nations. "All in all, we had a very good discussion," Bush said after the meeting, according to a transcript provided by the White House. "Our relationship with Vietnam is getting closer, in a spirit of respect." The meeting was part of Dung's first U.S. trip as prime minister and comes as Vietnam is facing a number of challenges, including rising inflation, a weakened currency and slumping stock market. Dung called the meeting "successful," adding that the two officials agreed to create a new dialogue mechanism on key issues like economics, education and climate change. Dung said they also agreed to create a panel to help Vietnam respond to climate change and rising sea levels and to begin negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty. At the same time, he said Bush reaffirmed that the U.S. is actively reviewing Vietnam's request to join the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences trade program, which allows certain developing nations to ship some products to the U.S. market duty free. Both officials said they discussed cooperation on humanitarian issues, with Bush telling the prime minister that he appreciated the Vietnamese government's efforts towards religious and political freedom. "We agreed with each other on a wide range of issues," Dung said, according to the transcript. "President Bush reiterated his support for Vietnam sovereignty, security and territorial integrity." -By Maya Jackson Randall, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-9255; maya.jackson-randall@dowjones.com
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