[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000-2001, Book III)]
[November 19, 2000]
[Page 2562]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 2562]]


Remarks at a United States-Vietnamese Business Forum Reception in




Ho Chi Minh City
November 19, 2000

    Thank you very much. First, thank you for your warm welcome, Mr. 
Chairman. And let me thank all the members of 
the Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the U.S.-Vietnam Trade 
Council, U.S.-ASEAN Business Council, and the American Chamber of 
Commerce for bringing us all together today.
    I am honored to be here with distinguished Members of the United 
States Congress and my Cabinet and administration and American business 
leaders who are interested in Vietnam.
    I hope this trip has helped the American people to see Vietnam in a 
new way and has encouraged the people of Vietnam to see America in a new 
way, so that we will have a partnership for the future.
    One important element of that partnership is our bilateral trade 
agreement, and I want to thank all of you here for your efforts to bring 
it about. There are so many Americans who want to play a positive role 
in Vietnam's future, including one million Americans of Vietnamese 
heritage.
    There are also a lot of American business people who came here many 
years ago, during the conflict--people like Jim Kimsey, who is on my trip here--who have done very well in the 
high-tech economy and other areas, who would like to give back to 
Vietnam and do something positive to build a better future.
    I want to thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the 
work that you have done here in Ho Chi Minh City to promote private 
economic growth and to encourage others to be partners with you in the 
future. And I hope that all of us will be able to celebrate that kind of 
future because of your leadership and the policies of the Government of 
Vietnam and the willingness of the people of Vietnam to support this new 
direction.
    Again, let me thank all of you for making my family and my 
delegation feel so welcome in Vietnam. I thank you for your vision for 
this young and dynamic country, and I am going home determined to 
continue the partnership we have for a better future for the people of 
Vietnam, the people of the United States, and all those whom we can 
reach together.
    Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 5:53 p.m. at city hall. In his remarks, he 
referred to Vo Viet Thanh, chairman, Ho Chi Minh City People's 
Committee; and James V. Kimsey, founder, America OnLine.