(U) DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE'S SEPTEMBER 11, 2008

UNCLAS HANOI 001041 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS E.O. 12598: N/A TAGS: OVIP NEGROPONTE PREL ECON ERTD AMGT VM SUBJECT: (U) DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE'S SEPTEMBER 11, 2008 CONVERSATON WITH VIETNAM PM NGUYEN TAN DUNG SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. FOR INTERNAL USG USE. NOT SUITABLE FOR INTERNET POSTING. ¶1. (U) September 11, 2008; 1700; Hanoi, Vietnam. ¶2. (U) Participants: U.S. The Deputy Secretary Ambassador Michael Michalak DAS Scot Marciel PolCouns Brian Aggeler D Special Assistant Kaye Lee D Special Assistant Ted Wittenstein PolOff Christian Marchant (Notetaker) VIETNAM PM Nguyen Tan Dung Office of Government DG Bui Huy Hung MFA Americas Department DG Nguyen Ba Hung MFA Assistant Director Americas Department Le Chi Dzung ¶3. (SBU) SUMMARY. In an extremely cordial meeting the Deputy Secretary and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung agreed that recent achievements in U.S.-GVN relations were "irreversible" and committed to deepen economic ties and military-to-military cooperation. The Deputy Secretary voiced support for Vietnam's educational goals. The Prime was receptive to the Deputy Secretary's request that Vietnam work with the United States to reach an agreement on the construction of a New Embassy Compound. END SUMMARY. -------------- -------------- ECONOMIC, MILITARY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Reviewing the day's meetings, PM Dung and the Deputy Secretary agreed that the two sides had set down a clear path to further strengthen bilateral cooperation. PM Dung highlighted the establishment of a Working Group on Economic and Trade Cooperation and negotiations on a Bilateral Investment Treaty as evidence of increased economic cooperation, and urged the United States to move forward in recognizing Vietnam's status both as a market economy and making it a Generalized System of Preferences beneficiary. In the area of military cooperation, PM Dung noted progress in preparing for political, security, and military talks in October. The Deputy Secretary observed that he had a good discussion with MND Vice Minister Hieu and stated that improved military-to-military relations were important to peace and stability in the region. PM Dung noted that he was pleased with efforts to establish a mechanism for cooperation on climate change and rising sea levels. -------------- EDUCATION COOPERATION -------------- ¶5. (SBU) PM Dung highlighted his desire to establish an education taskforce as agreed during his June visit to the U.S. Noting his conversation with DPM/ Education Minister earlier in the day, the Deputy Secretary expressed his support for Vietnam's goal to have 10,000 students receive PhDs overseas in the next 10 years. The Deputy Secretary also voiced support for Vietnam's efforts to improve its general education system, pointing to the formation of an education task force as an important step. -------------- NEW EMBASSY COMPOUND -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Noting that he had raised the subject with both DPM/FM Khiem and VFM Minh, the Deputy Secretary emphasized the need to move forward on a new embassy. PM Dung commented that the GVN had just sent a diplomatic note on the issue and hoped that it would form the basis for positive discussion on this topic. The Deputy Secretary said that he asked U/S Kennedy to come to Hanoi as soon as possible to resolve all outstanding issues. PM Dung said that he would welcome the visit. -------------- LOOKING FORWARD -------------- ¶7. (SBU) At the conclusion of the meeting, the Deputy Secretary stressed his belief that President Bush and the GVN had put bilateral ties on a new plateau and provided a firm basis for moving forward in the future. The two sides agreed that the progress made in bilateral relations was irreversible. MICHALAK