AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH POLITBURO MEMBER AND PARTY CHIEF

C O N F I D E N T I A L HANOI 000773 FOR EAP/MLS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ECON SENV VM SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH POLITBURO MEMBER AND PARTY CHIEF OF HANOI Classified By: Ambassador Michael Michalak. Reasons 1.4 (B/D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In a warm and cordial meeting August 13, Hanoi Party Secretary Pham Quang Nghi and the Ambassador expressed mutual support for strong bilateral relations. Nghi, who sits on the Politburo, assured the Ambassador that whatever personnel changes occur at the next Party Congress in 2011, the Party remains committed to its policy of reform ("Doi Moi," renovation) and would accelerate the pace of international integration. Nghi outlined Hanoi's plans for its 1,000-year birthday next year and requested assistance in establishing a sister-city relationship with Washington, DC. He concluded the meeting by praising the Ambassador for speaking the truth about the "real situation" in Vietnam. END SUMMARY. STRONG BILATERAL RELATIONS -------------- ¶2. (C) Meeting with the Ambassador August 13, Hanoi Party Secretary Pham Quang Nghi emphasized the positive trajectory of U.S.-Vietnam relations, noting with approval the fact that two U.S. Presidents have visited Vietnam since relations were normalized nearly 15 years ago, and that Vietnamese leaders, including the current President and Prime Minister, have also visited the United States. Nghi praised what he characterized as a renewed interest in Southeast Asia, and urged President Obama and Secretary Clinton to visit Vietnam at the first possible opportunity. THE DRAGON ASCENDS FOR 1,000 YEARS -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Party Secretary Nghi outlined the festivities planned for Hanoi's 1,000 year birthday in 2010 and asked for the Ambassador's assistance in establishing a sister-city relationship with Washington, DC. Nghi said that the city of Hanoi had invited mayors from "important" capitol cities from around the world and said that he hoped the mayor of Washington, DC would accept Hanoi's invitation. The Ambassador congratulated Nghi on Hanoi's 1,000 year anniversary, noting that 2010 would mark the 15th anniversary of normalization of relations between the United States and Vietnam as well. UPCOMING PARTY CONGRESS -------------- ¶4. (C) In response to the Ambassador's question about the Communist Party's preparations for the 11th Party Congress in 2011, Chairman Nghi said that the next Party Congress would focus on further accelerating Doi Moi (Vietnam's overall program of reform),arguing that Doi Moi was a "proven success" and the job of the CPV was to strengthen, accelerate and systematize the renovation process. ¶5. (C) Chairman Nghi noted that next year is the key year for preparations for the Congress and that in 2010 each level of the Party -- Commune, District and Province -- would assist in drafting the Party's platform. He insisted that Vietnamese leaders face "elections" at all levels and therefore are subject to even more public scrutiny than U.S. politicians. The Ambassador challenged Nghi's reasoning on this point, noting that elections in the United States are a drawn out affair and that the President is elected directly by all Americans and not just members of his own political party. AGENT ORANGE -------------- ¶6. (C) Chairman Nghi made what he termed a "special appeal" to the Ambassador, "speaking on behalf of Vietnam's leadership and the entire population of Vietnam," in asking the United States to step up its efforts in the area of Agent Orange remediation and assistance to victims. The Ambassador emphasized numerous projects the United States is involved in to clean up hot spots such as the Danang airport and to assist the disabled, whatever the cause of their disability. He also said that the United States remained committed to remediation efforts, noting in particular the efforts of the U.S.-Vietnam Joint Advisory Committee on Agent Orange/Dioxin, which will be meeting in September. Returning to a more affable tone, Nghi acknowledged U.S. efforts, but urged the United States to do more. PRAISE FOR AMBASSADOR -------------- ¶7. (C) Chairman Nghi concluded the meeting by praising the Ambassador for taking a fair and unbiased approach, whether speaking to GVN leaders or to Americans, noting that the Ambassador understood the "real situation" in Vietnam. Alluding to criticisms of his early management of the city of Hanoi, Nghi said he sympathized with the Ambassador when he was criticized by Vietnamese Americans and the press in the United States. The Ambassador responded that he had also been criticized by Vietnam's state-run media in Vietnam for speaking the truth. COMMENT -------------- ¶8. (C) Nghi, a disciple of fellow Thanh Hoa native Le Kha Phieu, is generally regarded as an ideological conservative. His comments about the need to accelerate Doi Moi demonstrate just how institutionalized market-oriented economic policies have become. Equally telling, however, were his comments on the "election" of Vietnam's cadre; unlike economic reform, political reform today finds few champions. Also noteworthy, particularly in light of the 2011 Party Congress, was the fact that Nghi appeared to want to discuss national issues and the future of the CPV, rather than "Hanoi issues" such as city expansion, infrastructure, and local services. MICHALAK