VIETNAM TRADE MINISTER'S MESSAGE TO COMMERCE SECRETARY

UNCLAS HANOI 000302 SIPDIS COMMERCE FOR ACTING U/S ONEILL 4430/MAC/AP/OPB/VLC/JBENDER STATE FOR EAP/MLS BLAKE, PALMER AND BROWN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD ECON PGOV VM SUBJECT: VIETNAM TRADE MINISTER'S MESSAGE TO COMMERCE SECRETARY LOCKE ¶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 Department of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on his appointment. In the letter, Minister Hoang also expressed his hopes to continue his Ministry's close cooperation with the Commerce Department. ¶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. Secretary Gary Locke Department of Commerce of the United States of America 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 Secretary of the Department of Commerce. 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. I also hope we will cooperate to contribute to the development of good relationships and mutual understanding between the Department of Commerce and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam in the future. I hope to have the pleasure of meeting you soon. Regards, Vu Huy Hoang Minister of Industry and Trade The Socialist Republic of Vietnam END TEXT OF LETTER MICHALAK