    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [November 17, 2006]
    [Pages 2096-2098]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Joint Statement by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the United
    States of America
    November 17, 2006

        President Nguyen Minh Triet of the
    Socialist Republic of Vietnam was pleased to welcome United States
    President George W. Bush to Vietnam. Looking back on the June 2005 Joint
    Statement by President Bush and then Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, both leaders expressed satisfaction at the progress
    the bilateral relationship has made, resulting in a U.S.-Vietnam
    relationship today that is multi-faceted and forward looking. It
    encompasses significant and growing trade and economic ties, an emerging
    military-to-military relationship, successful cooperation on health and
    development issues, growing cultural and educational links, a commitment
    to resolving remaining issues stemming from the war, a shared interest
    in ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region,
    and frank and candid discussion of differences. The two sides reaffirmed
    their efforts to ensure that bilateral relations are stable,
    constructive, broad-based, and conducted on the basis of sovereign
    equality and mutual benefit.
        President Triet and President Bush
    applauded the historic milestone of Vietnam's accession to the World
    Trade Organization and President Bush reiterated his firm support for
    the earliest possible Congressional approval of Permanent Normal Trade
    Relations. President Triet confirmed that Vietnam would fully uphold the
    rules-based trading system embedded in the WTO and join other members in
    their efforts to create a level playing field based on fairness,
    openness, and transparency. He welcomed President Bush's assurances that
    the United

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    States would maintain open access to the U.S. market and support
    Vietnam's process of integration with the world economy. The two leaders
    anticipated an even greater amount of bilateral trade and investment,
    benefiting the people of both nations. President Bush also welcomed the
    Vietnamese leadership's determination to accelerate the course of doi
    moi reforms, build the rule of law, and combat corruption, and held that
    such efforts are important for Vietnam's economic vitality and favorable
    business and investment climate. The two Presidents also looked forward
    to the signing of a Maritime Transport Agreement at an early date to
    further accelerate growth in our vibrant economic relationship.
        President Bush and President Triet
    discussed the growing cooperation between the United States and Vietnam
    to address regional and global concerns. President Bush welcomed
    Vietnam's active engagement in international affairs aimed at
    maintaining peace, cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific
    region and the world, and noted his appreciation of Vietnam's support
    for a denuclearized Korean Peninsula and the consensus views of the UNSC
    as expressed in UNSCR 1718. President Triet welcomed the reconvening of
    the Six Party Talks and expressed the hope that a peaceful solution for
    the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula would be reached.
        The two leaders pledged to increase cooperation to halt the
    proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and related technology and
    materials in accordance with international and national laws and each
    country's capacities. They also pointed to the agreement on nuclear fuel
    replacement at the Dalat Research Reactor, and the signing of a
    Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Drug Enforcement
    Administration Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security, as examples of the
    diverse ways in which the two countries are working together to protect
    the safety and security of their peoples and others in the region.
        The two leaders looked especially to cooperation on the health front
    as an example of the tangible benefits of the United States and Vietnam
    working closely together. President Bush praised Vietnam's timely,
    effective, and transparent response to avian influenza in the country,
    which has prevented any further human outbreaks in Vietnam since October
    2005. He noted that Vietnam's efforts were a model for the region, and
    pledged continued U.S. support in responding to the threat of avian
    influenza. As Vietnam is one of the focus countries for President Bush's
    PEPFAR initiative on HIV/AIDS, the United States and Vietnam have also
    worked closely together to combat the scourge of this disease. The two
    leaders agreed to further strengthen the present positive cooperation.
    President Triet praised the work of the
    STAR initiative in Vietnam and the extension of this activity. President
    Triet also expressed appreciation for the U.S. Government's increasing
    development assistance to Vietnam and urged the U.S. side to increase
    humanitarian assistance including through cooperation on areas such as
    unexploded ordinance and continued assistance to Vietnamese with
    disabilities. The United States and Vietnam also agreed that further
    joint efforts to address the environmental contamination near former
    dioxin storage sites would make a valuable contribution to the continued
    development of their bilateral relationship.
        President Bush explained the National Security Strategy of the
    United States, which stresses the importance to world peace and
    stability of the development in every country of full respect for human
    rights and fundamental freedoms. President Triet apprised President Bush of recently promulgated laws and
    regulations on religious freedom that are to be implemented in all
    localities of Vietnam. The two leaders also noted the importance of
    continuing to make progress in the bilateral human rights dialogue and
    reaffirmed that it should be

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    conducted in a comprehensive, constructive and results-oriented manner.
        The two leaders expressed satisfaction with progress on resolving
    outstanding issues from the war and agreed that the two sides would
    continue cooperation in this respect. President Triet reaffirmed his Government's continued efforts to assist
    the United States to ensure the fullest possible accounting for
    Americans who remain missing in action, through both joint and enhanced
    unilateral actions. President Bush reaffirmed U.S. contributions to help
    obtain information on Vietnamese MIA cases.
        Presidents Triet and Bush discussed
    cooperation in regional affairs, and President Bush praised Vietnam's
    hosting of APEC this year as a demonstration of Vietnam's active and
    important role in promoting trade and economic liberalization and
    strengthening security in the region. President Triet noted the robust
    engagement by the United States with ASEAN, and looked towards
    increasing that cooperation through the U.S.-ASEAN Enhanced Partnership.
    The two leaders pledged continued efforts to seek mutual understanding
    on issues of regional and global concern.
        The two leaders noted the importance of high-level visits between
    the two countries to the development of Vietnam-U.S. relations in the
    future. President Bush invited President Triet to visit the United States in 2007 to continue these
    discussions; President Triet thanked President Bush and accepted the
    invitation with pleasure.

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this joint statement.