[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 25 (Monday, June 27, 2005)]
[Pages 1037-1038]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With Prime Minister Phan Van Khai of 
Vietnam

June 21, 2005

    President Bush. There will be two opening statements this morning. 
Mr. Prime Minister, welcome. I want to thank you for the constructive 
visit we just had. We discussed a wide range of subjects. We discussed 
our economic relations. And I noted that the Vietnamese economy is 
growing quite substantially. We talked about our desire for Vietnam to 
join the WTO. We talked about security issues and a mutual desire to 
coordinate in the war on terror.
    We talked about humanitarian issues. As the Prime Minister noted, 
the United States is supporting the fight against HIV/AIDS in Vietnam, 
and he gave me a report on the progress about our mutual desire to help 
those who suffer with HIV/AIDS. We signed a landmark agreement that will 
make it easier for people to worship freely in Vietnam.
    And finally, I want to thank the Prime Minister for his Government's 
willingness to continue to work on the--on finding the remains of those 
who lost their lives in Vietnam. It's very comforting to many families 
here in America to understand that the Government is providing 
information to help close a sad chapter in their lives.
    And finally, the Prime Minister graciously invited me to Vietnam. I 
will be going in 2006. I'm looking forward to my trip. I'm also looking 
forward to the APEC Summit that Vietnam will be hosting.
    Mr. Prime Minister, welcome.
    Prime Minister Khai. Thank you very much Mr. President, ladies and 
gentlemen.
    At the invitation of President George W. Bush, it gives me the great 
pleasure and honor as the first Vietnamese Prime Minister to pay an 
official visit to the United States. And this event, in itself, shows 
that Vietnam-U.S. relations have in fact entered a new stage of 
development. My visit to America this time coincides with the 10th 
anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations.
    During the talks that I had with Mr. President, Mr. President and I 
were pleased to note the significant developments in the two countries' 
relations, including the good progress made in addressing the various 
issues left over by the past as well as the various steps to be taken to 
expand our relations in the future.
    Mr. President and I also shared the view that proceeding from the 
interest of the two countries and given the new developments in the 
region and the world, the two countries' relationship should be 
enhanced. And

[[Page 1038]]

we should aim to build a friendly relationship, constructive 
partnership, a comprehensive cooperation on a long-term and stable basis 
as well as on the basis of equality, mutual respect and benefits.
    We believe that America can find in Vietnam a potential cooperation 
partner. We have a population of 80 million people, which means a huge 
market for American businesses. And these people are also very hard 
working, creative, and dynamic. And they are now working very hard to 
achieve the goal of building Vietnam into a strong country with wealthy 
people and a democratic and advanced society.
    Vietnam is also actively integrating itself into the world economy 
and wishes to be a friend and reliable partner of all countries in the 
international community. I also highly appreciate Mr. President's strong 
support for Vietnam's early WTO accession, and we agreed that Vietnam's 
accession will be in the benefits of both countries, and we agree to 
continue with our bilateral negotiations with the aim of concluding 
those very soon.
    Mr. President and I also agreed that there remain differences 
between our two countries due to the different conditions that we have--
the different histories and cultures. But we also agreed that we should 
work together through constructive dialog based upon mutual respect to 
reduce those differences in order to improve our bilateral relations.
    On international issues, Mr. President and I exchanged views on the 
recent developments in Asia and the Pacific, which we are both concerned 
about. And we also agreed on the needs to improve the effectiveness of 
APEC for which the 2006 APEC Summit in Vietnam will be an important 
milestone.
    I am also delighted that President Bush has accepted my invitation 
to visit Vietnam and to attend the 2006 APEC Summit, and we also welcome 
your support for the organization of this summit.
    I am fully confident that my visit to America this time will help 
uplift the relationship between our two countries to a new height, and 
may I finally wish America prosperity and happiness to her people.
    I thank you very much for your time.
    President Bush. Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 10:01 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. Prime Minister Khai spoke in Vietnamese, and his remarks were 
translated by an interpreter. A tape was not available for verification 
of the content of these remarks.