Deputy Secretary Steinberg's September 27, 2009 Conversation

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000845 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OVIP PREL PGOV PHUM ECON ETRD KN CH VM SUBJECT: Deputy Secretary Steinberg's September 27, 2009 Conversation with Vietnam Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung ¶1. (SBU) September 27, 2009; 10:40 am; The Office of Government; Hanoi ¶2. (SBU) Participants: U.S. -------------- The Deputy Secretary Ambassador Michael Michalak Joseph Donovan, EAP Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Scot Marciel, EAP Deputy Assistant Secretary Rear Admiral Charles Leidig, Joint Chiefs of Staff Amb. Joseph DeTrani, Directorate of National Intelligence Derek Mitchell, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Pamela Park, Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary Clifford Reed, S/ES-O Harry Kamian, Political Counselor, U.S. Embassy Hanoi Michael Goldman, Deputy Political Counselor (Notetaker) VIETNAM -------------- Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung Bui Huy Hung, Office of Government Director General Le Hung Hoang, Deputy DG, MFA Americas Department Tran Quang Trung, MFA Americas Department Office of Government notetaker ¶3. (SBU) SUMMARY: In a cordial meeting September 27, the Deputy Secretary and Vietnam's Standing Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung affirmed that, overall, bilateral relations continued to improve and agreed to work together more closely as Vietnam assumes ASEAN's Chair in 2010. Hung reiterated an invitation for President Obama to attend a U.S.-ASEAN summit in Hanoi, arguing that it was time for the United States to have a "greater voice" within ASEAN, particularly on issues related to the South China Sea. The Deputy Secretary reaffirmed our commitment to regional engagement and urged ASEAN countries, individually and as a group, to play an important role in nonproliferation initiatives. The two sides expressed support for increased cooperation on economic development, health, education, and climate change; the Deputy Secretary noted, however, that to do this, the U.S. mission required adequate staffing. The Deputy Secretary emphasized that good governance, transparency, and a free press were essential to creating favorable conditions for continued foreign investment. Alluding to a controversial decree severely restricting independent research institutions, the Deputy Secretary said Vietnam's ability to attract U.S. educational partners would depend in large part on Vietnam's perceived commitment to basic academic freedoms. END SUMMARY. Bilateral Relations �A; -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Apologizing for the Prime Minister's absence, Vietnam's Standing Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung began his September 27 meeting with the Deputy Secretary by emphasizing the positive trajectory of bilateral relations, particularly in the area of trade, but also in education, health, the environment, military-military engagement, and "war legacy" issues. Hung placed particular emphasis on the threat posed by rising sea levels, identifying climate change as a challenge second only to economic development and poverty reduction, and encouraged the United States to continue joint efforts in this regard. Hung also pressed the United States to increase its contributions to international financial institutions such as the Asian Development Bank. Vietnam's leadership was aware of the two countries' "sad past," Hung continued, but had decided to "give priority" to advancing U.S.-Vietnam ties. This was particularly true as Vietnam prepared to assume the Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2010. Noting the favorable impact of previous presidential visits, Hung reiterated an invitation for President Obama to visit Hanoi for a revitalized U.S.-ASEAN Summit. ¶5. (SBU) The Deputy Secretary praised Vietnam for the remarkable economic progress it had made since he worked to reestablish diplomatic relations as a member of the Clinton Administration in the mid 1990s. He congratulated Vietnam on the imminent opening of its consulate in Houston and said that the United States was eager to work with Vietnam to deepen the relationship. Alluding to long GVN delays in approving new positions, the Deputy Secretary also stressed that to be able to increase engagment, the U.S. Embassy HANOI 00000845 002 OF 002 and HCMC Consulate needed to be adequately staffed. ASEAN, Nonproliferation, and South China Sea -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Noting the Secretary's visit to the ASEAN Secretariat and the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, the Deputy Secretary emphasized that the United States was committed to deepening its engagement with Asia and the ASEAN in particular. The Secretary was particularly interested in the Lower Mekong Initiative as a promising way to tackle, regionally, many of the issues that Hung had raised, including health, development, and the environment. The Deputy Secretary urged the countries of ASEAN -- individually and as a body -- to work closely with the United States to further the international community's interest in nonproliferation, particularly as articulated in UNSCR 1887. ¶7. (SBU) Vietnam welcomed U.S. engagement in the region, DPM Hung stressed, adding that it was time the United States developed a "greater voice" within ASEAN. This was particularly true with regard to the South China Sea, Hung said, noting U.S. investments in the oil/gas sector. Hung did not specify how the United States should become more involved or offer particulars about Vietnam's own approach, except to say that his government supported the Declaration of Conduct that the ASEAN countries had initiated with China and to reiterate that Vietnam was committed to a peaceful settlement in accord with the 1982 Law of the Sea (UCLOS). The Deputy Secretary noted that while it did not take a position on the competing legal/territorial claims in the South China Sea, the United States encouraged all sides to come together and settle their differences peacefully. He said that he appreciated Vietnam's commitment to a peaceful, multilateral solution and assured Hung that the United States also valued UNCLOS and had made ratification a priority. Human Rights, Media Freedom, and Academic Freedom -------------- -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The Deputy Secretary emphasized the importance of human rights to many of the priorities enumerated by DPM Hung. Good governance, transparency, and a free press were, for example, essential to creating favorable conditions for continued foreign investment. Likewise, as a former university dean, he said he could attest to the vital importance of academic freedom. Alluding to a controversial Prime Ministerial decree ("Article 97") severely restricting the activities of independent research institutions, the Deputy Secretary said that Vietnam's ability to attract U.S. educational partners would depend in large part on the degree to which scholars are able to conduct research freely and share their findings. When discussing human rights, the United States was committed to a real dialogue, he emphasized; as President Obama had said in his trip to Africa, every country has its own history, experiences, and developmental path. DPM Hung declined to respond directly to the Deputy Secretary's remarks, but agreed that dialogue was important. Vietnam was "democratic" he insisted, because decisions are made collectively and in the interests of the people. ¶9. (U) The Deputy Secretary cleared this message. MICHALAK Michalak