DPM KHIEM'S VISIT TO UNITED STATES: MARCH DATES ACCEPTED

UNCLAS HANOI 000234 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS AND DRL/IRF NSC FOR H MORROW E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM KIRF PREL PGOV ECON VM SUBJECT: DPM KHIEM'S VISIT TO UNITED STATES: MARCH DATES ACCEPTED ¶1. (SBU) On February 5, the DCM met with the MFA America's Desk Acting DG Pham Van Que. Que confirmed that DPM/FM Pham Gia Khiem would like to visit Washington DC, March 15-16 (text of diplomatic note at para 6). The main purpose of the DPM's visit is to prepare for President Nguyen Minh Triet's trip to the United States. Other topics to be discussed include the exchange of consular districts, property issues and closer MFA and department ties. ¶2. (SBU) According to Que, the DPM's pre-Washington itinerary would include stops in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago. The GVN's San Francisco consulate will organize the DPM's California schedule and their Embassy will facilitate the Chicago and Washington portion. In San Francisco, the DPM proposes to meet with the Mayor, visit Stanford or Berkeley University, meet with U.S. businesses and with Americans of Vietnamese descent. In Los Angeles, Khiem proposes to meet with the Mayor and with business leaders. In Chicago, he would like to meet with the Mayor, visit Chicago University and/or Fermilab, and meet with the leaders of Boeing and other U.S. corporations, Que added. ¶3. (SBU) Noting that the Vietnamese understand the final schedule will be limited by time and the availability of U.S. officials, Que said that Khiem will seek meetings in Washington with the Secretary, APNSA Hadley, SecDef Gates, SecCommerce Gutierrez, USTR Schwab, OPIC Mosbascher, EXIMBANK Lambright, USAID Administrator Tobias, and TDA Askey. On the hill, Khiem will seek meetings with key sub-committee chairpersons (NFI) and other members. In addition, the DPM hopes to meet with the World Bank President and IMF Director, as well as participate in large meetings with business and political leaders organized by groups including the U.S./Vietnam trade Council. ¶4. (SBU) Que stated that the DPM's delegation may include Vice Ministers from the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Planning and Industry, the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Science and Technology. The Vice Ministers will likely seek separate meetings at their counterpart USG agencies during the DPM's visit. ¶5. (SBU) Que commented that the GVN's preferred timing for President Triet's visit may be determined in the coming week and that Hanoi may suggest the last week of June. In addition to discussing visit timing, Khiem will be interested in discussing bilateral issues including expanding our consular presence, diplomatic properties and "strengthening relations between the MFA and the Department of State." Khiem may also follow up on discussions between President Bush and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dzung regarding the expansion of education cooperation between Vietnam and the United States. ¶6. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT OF DIPLOMATIC NOTE: No: NG-CM The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America in Hanoi and has the honor to refer to the dip-note number 029/NG-CM and to inform the Embassy that Dr. Pham Gia Khiem, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs plans to pay an official visit to the United States of America from 12 to 16 March, 2007. The Deputy Prime Minister plans to visit Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago. During the visit, the Deputy Prime Minister would like to meet with Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, and other Secretaries, Congressmen, leaders of some U.S. Government's economic agencies and of the U.S. business circle, think tanks and representatives of Vietnamese American community in the U.S. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam requests the U.S. Department of State's assistance in arranging meetings with leaders of the U.S. Government agencies and guaranteeing security for the delegation throughout the visit. The Embassy of the SRV in Washington, DC will work with the Department of State on the schedule of the visit and the meetings with US Government officials. The America's Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to work with the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi on the details of the visit. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of its highest consideration. Hanoi, February 5, 2007 END TEXT OF DIPLOMATIC NOTE. MARINE