Letter to NSA Jones from DPM/FM Pham Gia Khiem

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 001422

SIPDIS
EAP/MLS PLEASE PASS TO NSC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON ASEAN VM
SUBJECT: Letter to NSA Jones from DPM/FM Pham Gia Khiem


1. After work hours December 24, Post received an electronic copy
of a letter to National Security Advisor Jones from Deputy Prime
Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem, which we sent to
EAP/MLS to be forwarded to the NSC staff. Text of the letter is as
follows:




2. Begin text:



Hanoi, December 24, 2009



General James L. Jones, USMC, Ret.

National Security Advisor

The White House

Washington, D.C. 20506, USA



Dear Mr. Advisor,



Thank you for your October 5th 2009 letter. As you did, I also
regretted not being able to meet with you during my recent visit to
the United States. Yet, I understand you were too busy with many
pressing matters at the time. I feel satisfied with the results of
that visit and glad to know that since then the relations between
our two countries have continued to develop.



I fully share President Barack Obama's views on the importance of
strengthening relationship between our two countries as well as
broadening areas of shared interests and huge cooperative
potentials including, inter alia, education and training, science
and technology, humanitarian relief and cooperation at
international forums. Viet Nam - U.S. relations have in recent past
recorded positive and solid achievements and now are facing the
opportunity to develop more substantively. I always highly
appreciate your extremely important role in promoting the relations
of friendship, constructive partnership and multi-faceted
cooperation between our two countries.



The year 2010 will mark the 15th anniversary of the establishment
of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and the United States. I
have instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate
closely with the U.S. side to organize commemorative activities of
this occasion in a most significant way. This will be an
opportunity for us to highlight the great achievements in Viet Nam
- U.S. relations and a milestone for the new stage of its
development. The year 2010 will also see Viet Nam taking over the
Chairmanship of ASEAN. In this position, together with other member
countries, Viet Nam is willing to strengthen the ASEAN - U.S.
cooperation, promote the ASEAN economic integration process and
properly address related regional issues, thus contributing toward
building a strong ASEAN community and effectively coping with new
regional changes as well as global challenges. We hope that the
United States, in the capacity as a top important partner of ASEAN,
will carry out its strong commitment toward the region for peace,
stability, cooperation and development as affirmed by President
Obama in the 1st ASEAN - U.S. Summit Meeting in Singapore in
November 2009. Along this line, Viet Nam is prepared to host the
2nd ASEAN - U.S. Summit Meeting and also the 2nd U.S. - Lower
Mekong Ministerial Meeting in Hanoi in 2010. We are looking forward
to welcoming President Obama to pay an official visit to Viet Nam
on this occasion with yourself Mr. Advisor and Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton in his entourage.



On the occasion of the Christmas Season and the New Year, I would
like to extend to you and your family my best wishes. I hope that
we will continue receiving your support for the stronger and

HANOI 00001422 002 OF 002


durable development of Viet Nam - U.S. relations.



(Signed)



PHAM GIA KHIEM




3. End text.
Michalak