PM DUNG GETS THE BALL ROLLING ON WORKING GROUP TO REVIEW

UNCLAS HANOI 000951 COMMERCE FOR I/A A/S DSPOONER AND SSU SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD ETTC SUBJECT: PM DUNG GETS THE BALL ROLLING ON WORKING GROUP TO REVIEW NON-MARKET ECONOMY STATUS ¶1. (U) On August 13, 2008, Embassy Hanoi received the following letter from Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung of Vietnam, addressed to Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez, dated August 11. Post has the original copy of the letter on file. ¶2. BEGIN TEXT: Dear Mr. Secretary, All members of my delegation and I are very impressed of the warm welcome extended to us during our recent official visit to the U.S. and highly appreciate the constructive exchange of views and ideas we had with you on strengthening economic ties between our two countries. With regard to establishing a working group for expanding trade cooperation, including issue of market economy status for Vietnam you proposed in your letter dated June 24, 2008, I consider it as necessary and useful and I fully support. In order to push thing forward, I have instructed Mr. Vu Huy Hoang-Minister of Industry and Trade, to work with you on details and to appoint the Vietnamese co-chair of the group. I expect the group will hold its first meeting in 2008 so as to join in efforts to further develop bilateral cooperation between our two countries in the coming time. I wish you good health and success. Sincerely, Nguyen Tan Dung END TEXT MICHALAK 2