Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02HANOI2385
2002-10-03 08:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Hanoi
Cable title:
VIETNAM'S PERSPECTIVE REGARDING ASEAN MINUS X (C-
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 030851Z Oct 02 2002HANOI02385 - CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ1918 PAGE 01 HANOI 02385 030850Z ACTION INR-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EAP-00 EB-00 EXIM-01 E-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00 ITC-01 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 MOFM-05 MOF-01 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-01 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 IIP-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /017W ------------------F0C083 030851Z /38 FM AMEMBASSY HANOI TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7685 INFO ASEAN COLLECTIVE AMEMBASSY TOKYO AMEMBASSY SEOUL AMEMBASSY BEIJING USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI//POLAD/J-5//
C O N F I D E N T I A L HANOI 002385
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INR/I, EAP/BCLTV AND EAP/RSP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/07
TAGS: PREL ETRD VM ASEAN
SUBJECT: VIETNAM'S PERSPECTIVE REGARDING ASEAN MINUS X (C-
AL2-00929)
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HANOI 02385 030850Z
REF: STATE 162892
C O N F I D E N T I A L HANOI 002385
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INR/I, EAP/BCLTV AND EAP/RSP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/07
TAGS: PREL ETRD VM ASEAN
SUBJECT: VIETNAM'S PERSPECTIVE REGARDING ASEAN MINUS X (C-
AL2-00929)
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HANOI 02385 030850Z
REF: STATE 162892
1. CLASSIFIED BY A/DCM SCOTT BELLARD, REASON 1.5 (B) AND
(D)
2. (C) VIETNAM SUPPORTS THE ASEAN "10 MINUS X" FORMULA, SO
LONG AS IT IS CONFINED TO THE ECONOMIC REALM AND DOES NOT
INTERFERE WITH POLICY OR POLITICAL AFFAIRS. ACCORDING TO
MFA ASEAN DEPARTMENT DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL PHAM HUU CHI,
VIETNAM ACCEPTS THE WISH OF OTHER ASEAN MEMBERS TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH THE 10 MINUS X POLICY AS A MEANS OF ADVANCING
"SEPARATE BUT COMPATIBLE AGENDAS." HANOI'S MAIN CONCERN IS
THAT THIS FORMULA NOT ENCROACH INTO AREAS DEALING WITH
POLITICAL FORMULATIONS, CHI NOTED.
3. (C) UNDER THE CURRENT DESIGN, CHI SAID THAT ALL MEMBER
STATES WOULD BE FREE TO JOIN OR AVOID SIGNING ANY ASEAN
INITIATIVE AT THEIR OWN DISCRETION. HANOI BELIEVES THIS
FORMULA COULD WORK WITH AN X VARIABLE OF 2 TO 3 COUNTRIES,
BUT "ANY MORE WOULD BE TOO MUCH, AND WOULD JUST NOT WORK."
IF 5 TO 6 MEMBERS DECIDED AGAINST AGREEING TO A PLAN, THEN
"THAT INITIATIVE WOULD SIMPLY BE UNTENABLE UNDER ASEAN
STANDARDS," HE ADDED.
4. (C) WHEN ASKED HOW THIS MIGHT AFFECT THE DEVELOPMENT
GAP, CHI STATED THAT HE DID NOT THINK IT WOULD HAVE MUCH OF
AN EFFECT AS LONG AS THE MORE AFFLUENT AND DEVELOPED
MEMBERS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE THE DEVELOPING STATES WITH
EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND INFRASTRUCTUAL ASSISTANCE.
CHI ADDED THAT VIETNAM WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE MINUS X
FORMULA GROW TO INCLUDE AREAS OF SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HANOI 02385 030850Z
COOPERATION AS WELL AS ECONOMICS.
5. (C) CHI ADMITTED THAT THIS WAS A NEW PROPOSAL AND WOULD
TAKE TIME TO REFINE. HE SAID THAT "SOME MEMBERS WERE MORE
EAGER THAN OTHERS" IN MOVING THIS INITIATIVE FORWARD AND
THAT FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC IS STILL NEEDED.
BURGHARDT
CONFIDENTIAL
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INR/I, EAP/BCLTV AND EAP/RSP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/07
TAGS: PREL ETRD VM ASEAN
SUBJECT: VIETNAM'S PERSPECTIVE REGARDING ASEAN MINUS X (C-
AL2-00929)
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HANOI 02385 030850Z
REF: STATE 162892
1. CLASSIFIED BY A/DCM SCOTT BELLARD, REASON 1.5 (B) AND
(D)
2. (C) VIETNAM SUPPORTS THE ASEAN "10 MINUS X" FORMULA, SO
LONG AS IT IS CONFINED TO THE ECONOMIC REALM AND DOES NOT
INTERFERE WITH POLICY OR POLITICAL AFFAIRS. ACCORDING TO
MFA ASEAN DEPARTMENT DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL PHAM HUU CHI,
VIETNAM ACCEPTS THE WISH OF OTHER ASEAN MEMBERS TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH THE 10 MINUS X POLICY AS A MEANS OF ADVANCING
"SEPARATE BUT COMPATIBLE AGENDAS." HANOI'S MAIN CONCERN IS
THAT THIS FORMULA NOT ENCROACH INTO AREAS DEALING WITH
POLITICAL FORMULATIONS, CHI NOTED.
3. (C) UNDER THE CURRENT DESIGN, CHI SAID THAT ALL MEMBER
STATES WOULD BE FREE TO JOIN OR AVOID SIGNING ANY ASEAN
INITIATIVE AT THEIR OWN DISCRETION. HANOI BELIEVES THIS
FORMULA COULD WORK WITH AN X VARIABLE OF 2 TO 3 COUNTRIES,
BUT "ANY MORE WOULD BE TOO MUCH, AND WOULD JUST NOT WORK."
IF 5 TO 6 MEMBERS DECIDED AGAINST AGREEING TO A PLAN, THEN
"THAT INITIATIVE WOULD SIMPLY BE UNTENABLE UNDER ASEAN
STANDARDS," HE ADDED.
4. (C) WHEN ASKED HOW THIS MIGHT AFFECT THE DEVELOPMENT
GAP, CHI STATED THAT HE DID NOT THINK IT WOULD HAVE MUCH OF
AN EFFECT AS LONG AS THE MORE AFFLUENT AND DEVELOPED
MEMBERS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE THE DEVELOPING STATES WITH
EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND INFRASTRUCTUAL ASSISTANCE.
CHI ADDED THAT VIETNAM WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE MINUS X
FORMULA GROW TO INCLUDE AREAS OF SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HANOI 02385 030850Z
COOPERATION AS WELL AS ECONOMICS.
5. (C) CHI ADMITTED THAT THIS WAS A NEW PROPOSAL AND WOULD
TAKE TIME TO REFINE. HE SAID THAT "SOME MEMBERS WERE MORE
EAGER THAN OTHERS" IN MOVING THIS INITIATIVE FORWARD AND
THAT FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC IS STILL NEEDED.
BURGHARDT
CONFIDENTIAL