CONGRESSMAN FALEOMAVAEGA MEETING WITH VIETNAMESE NATIONAL

UNCLAS HANOI 000038 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON VM SUBJECT: CONGRESSMAN FALEOMAVAEGA MEETING WITH VIETNAMESE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY VICE CHAIR ¶1. (SBU) Visiting Congressman Eni Faleomavaega held a January 10 meeting in Hanoi with Vietnamese National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee Vice Chairman Ngo Quang Xuan. Accompanied by Ambassador Michalak, Faleomavaega reviewed the increasing exchange of high-level visits and possibilities to take bilateral relations to a new level with a new U.S. administration. ¶2. (SBU) Xuan noted that both President Triet and Prime Minister Dung had visited the U.S. in recent years, and said that it would also make sense for National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong to visit as the Vietnamese constitution recognizes the NA as the highest organ of state power. Asked about dates for a visit in 2009, Faleomavaega suggested that the second half of the year would probably be better after the new U.S. administration has had time in office. ¶3. (SBU) Faleomavaega told Xuan that when such a high-level delegation comes to the U.S. it should have two or three key priorities rather than a longer laundry list. Xuan responded that among Vietnam's priorities are GSP status and expanding exports to the U.S. such as catfish and fruit. Faleomavaega noted that the issue of catfish exports had a long history, and that he would continue to follow the issue closely. ¶4. (SBU) Turning to the current Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee session that began January 5, the Ambassador asked about rumors that the Committee might recommend high-level leadership shake-ups. Xuan responded that discussions of personnel changes were very preliminary with no action likely soon. ¶5. (U) Congressman Faleomavaega has cleared this cable. MICHALAK