THE DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH VIETNAMESE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 002590

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STATE FOR D, AND EAP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2027
TAGS: ASEAN ETRD PREL EXBS VN
SUBJECT: THE DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH VIETNAMESE
FIRST DEPUTY FM PHUNG


Classified By: Deputy Secretary John Negroponte, reasons 1.4 c, d


1. (C) Summary: Vietnamese First Deputy FM Le Cong Phung
expressed a desire to continue improving the U.S.-Vietnam
bilateral relationship during an August 1 meeting with Deputy
Secretary Negroponte on the margins of the ASEAN Regional

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Forum (ARF) in Manila. Phung requested a meeting with
President Bush on behalf of Vietnam's Prime Minister during
the September UNGA meeting, looked forward to additional
training for Vietnamese military officers, and hoped for U.S.
support for its UNSC membership in 2008. The Deputy
Secretary pressed the Foreign Ministry to help move forward

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the purchase of land for a new U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, an
important symbol of improved relations. End Summary.

LAND ACQUISITION FOR NEW U.S. EMBASSY
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2. (C) Deputy Secretary Negroponte requested help from the
Foreign Ministry with current negotiations over the
acquisition of land for a new Embassy chancery in Hanoi.
This would be a tangible example of improved relations
between the two countries. The Deputy Minister agreed to do
what he can with Hanoi city officials but noted the
difficulty of finding a large peice of land in central Hanoi
for this project. Land is scare in the middle of the city;
Phung suggested it would be better to use land somewhat
outside the populous center. The Deputy Secretary remarked
that money for a new building might be delayed for some time
if negotiations did not resume and quickly result in an
agreement. Phung agreed to try to assist.

MEETING WITH PRESIDENT BUSH SOUGHT
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3. (C) Phung requested a meeting for Vietnamese Prime
Minister Dung with President Bush on the margins of upcoming
UN General Assembly meetings in September. The Deputy
Secretary commented that the President normally attends UNGA

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for only a day or two, and that his schedule is usually very
limited during such a visit. The Deputy Secretary agreed,
however, to convey the request in Washington.

MILITARY COOPERATION
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4. (C) The Minister expressed his gratitude for the recent
visit of the military hospital ship the USS Peleliu to
Danang. He also said that the expressed willingness of the
U.S. to receive Vietnamese military officers for training
should now be put into action.

UN SECURITY COUNCIL SEAT FOR VIETNAM
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5. (C) The Deputy Secretary congratulated Vietnam on its
likely selection for a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security
Council starting in 2008. Phung agreed that the selection
seemed on track, but only with the continued assistance of
the U.S. during the actual voting.

NEW U.S. AMBASSADOR TO VIETNAM
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6. (C) Phung was pleased to learn that the new U.S.
Ambassador, Michael Michalak, whom he knows through their
work together on last year's APEC meetings in Hanoi, would
arrive shortly in Hanoi.


13. (U) July 31,2007; 1615; Manila, Philippines.


14. (U) Meeting Participants:

U.S.
Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte
Kaye Lee, Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State
Ted Wittenstein, Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State
Colleen Kelly, EAP/RSP
William Syll, notetaker
Mireille Zieseniss, notetaker

Vietnam

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First Deputy Foreign Minister Le Cong Phung
Pham Quang Vinh, Deputy Director General, Asia II
Nguyen Xuan Thuy, Deputy Director General, ASEAN Department
Tran Duc Hung, Deputy Director General, Minister's Office
Le Minh Thang, Deputy Chief of Protocol
KENNEY