"Deputy PM receives US ambassador
Viet Nam and the United States should make joint efforts to boost cooperation in all fields with a view to building a stable and long-term framework for bilateral relations in the future, said permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung during his meeting with US Ambassador Raymond Burghardt in Ha Noi on Thursday.
Dung said the two countries should increase the exchange of visits by delegations at all levels, implement the signed agreements, and maintain the dialogue channel to solve differences and outstanding issues of mutual concern.
He raised Vietnamese farmers' concern about the lawsuit filed by the Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) and the Shrimp Association of the Louisiana State against some countries exporting shrimp to the US, including Viet Nam.
The Deputy PM expressed his hope that the US side would make a fair decision in settling the lawsuit.
Ambassador R. Burghardt said that the US and Viet Nam have seen positive developments in the political, economic-commercial, scientific-technological, education-training, healthcare, humanitarian and military fields. The two countries have also seen progress in cooperation in searching for American servicemen reported missing in action during the war, in carrying out mine clearance projects and solving the consequences of Agent Orange, he added.
Two-way trade between Viet Nam and the US increased to almost US$6 billion in 2003 from US$2.8 billion in 2002.
Vietnam Agency
© Vietnam Economic Times"