VIETNAM TRADE MINISTER INVITES USTR KIRK TO LEAD TIFA

UNCLAS HANOI 000301 SIPDIS USTR FOR AUSTR WEISEL AND BISBEE STATE FOR EAP/MLS PALMER AND BROWN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD ECON PGOV VM SUBJECT: VIETNAM TRADE MINISTER INVITES USTR KIRK TO LEAD TIFA MEETINGS IN HANOI IN JUNE ¶1. (U) On April 1, 2009, Embassy Hanoi received a letter from Minister Vu Huy Hoang, of the Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade, congratulating United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk on his appointment. Minister Hoang also invited USTR Kirk to come to Vietnam in June to hold ministerial-level Trade and Investment Framework Agreement meetings. ¶2. (U) The Ministry of Industry and Trade translated the original text of the letter from Vietnamese. ¶3. (U) BEGIN TEXT OF LETTER: Hanoi, 31 March 2009 To: H.E. Ambassador Ron Kirk The United States Trade Representative Your Excellency, On behalf of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations on your appointment as Ambassador of the United States Trade Representative. I strongly believe that you will succeed in your new leadership position. As you have learned, the trade and economic relations between Vietnam and the United States of America have achieved great steps in recent years. The entry into force of the Vietnam - U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement, the status of Vietnam as a member of the WTO, and recently, the conclusion of the TIFA are factors that create the foundations of developing bilateral relations between Vietnam and the United States of America. On the occasion of the forthcoming APEC ministerial conference in Singapore this coming June, I would like to invite you to come for a working visit in Vietnam as co-President of the TIFA Council to promote the trade relations between our two countries in the future. I also hope we will cooperate to contribute to the development of good relationships and mutual understanding between the United States Trade Representative and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam in the future. I hope to have the pleasure of meeting you soon in Singapore and Hanoi. Regards, Vu Huy Hoang Minister of Industry and Trade The Socialist Republic of Vietnam END TEXT OF LETTER MICHALAK