[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 46 (Monday, November 20, 2006)]
[Pages 2065-2067]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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,

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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 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

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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 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.