VZCZCXRO6791
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #0250/01 0370948
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 060948Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0671
RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 0443
RUEHZS/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 1305

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000250 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM CB BM CH VM
 
SUBJECT: EAP A/S Hill's Meeting with Vietnam VFM Le Van Bang 
 
HANOI 00000250  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  During his January 13 meeting with Vice 
Foreign Minister Le Van Bang, EAP A/S Christopher R. Hill 
underscored the importance of making progress in next week's 
WTO talks, urged Vietnam to improve its human rights 
situation and welcomed Vietnam's role in regional structures 
such as APEC and ASEAN.  The United States also values 
Vietnam's views on regional issues such as Burma, Cambodia 
and China.  VFM Bang emphasized that bilateral relations are 
at their best and expressed his confidence that the United 
States and Vietnam will be able to build upon last year's 
successes in a wide range of areas.  VFM Bang also expressed 
Vietnam's commitment to engaging with the United States on 
human rights and religious freedom concerns.  According to 
the Vice Foreign Minster, China continues to have a "big 
brother" presence in the region.  End Summary. 
 
2005: "Best Ever" in Bilateral Relations 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Vice Foreign Minister Le Van Bang welcomed EAP A/S 
Hill to Hanoi on January 13, saying that 2005 was the "best 
year ever" in U.S.-Vietnam relations.  The two countries had 
succeeded in raising the level of cooperation in the areas 
of the military, security, economy, science, education, 
humanitarian work and health care.  Based on this, 2006 will 
be a year of "still better bilateral relations."  Vietnam is 
eager to improve the level of its cooperation with the 
United States in the larger regional context, VFM Bang said. 
 
¶3. (SBU) A/S Hill relayed the positive spirit in Washington 
towards Vietnam following the historic visit of Prime 
Minister Pham Van Khai to the United States last year, which 
continues to resonate as Vietnam prepares to host the APEC 
summit in November.  A/S Hill also underscored the United 
States' commitment to developing relations with Vietnam as a 
valued friend.  He relayed plans by the Secretary to attend 
the Asian Regional Forum (ARF) this year in Kuala Lumpur and 
the U.S. anticipation of a stronger role for Vietnam in 
ASEAN and the ARF. 
 
WTO on the Horizon 
------------------ 
 
¶4. (SBU) A/S Hill reiterated the need for Vietnam to be 
pragmatic and move forward aggressively on its desire to 
accede to the World Trade Organization (WTO), noting that 
WTO membership would reap tremendous benefits for Vietnam. 
Hanoi must move quickly on WTO talks and not lose sight of 
reaching this goal by the time it hosts APEC.  VFM Bang 
agreed that it would be a unique opportunity for Vietnam to 
host APEC with its WTO membership in hand.  Vietnam has made 
its "political determination" on WTO and now the negotiators 
must work out the details. 
 
Human Rights and Religious Freedom 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Turning to religious freedom and human rights, VFM 
Bang acknowledged that the GVN must work with the United 
States to address concerns, such as its designation as a 
Country of Particular Concern (CPC) and overall matters 
related to religious freedom and human rights.  He said that 
he welcomed Congressman Chris Smith's visit to Hanoi in 
December 2005 and plans to write a letter pledging Vietnam's 
commitment to address the three areas the Congressman 
raised:  trafficking in women and children, abortion and 
religious freedom.  VFM Bang also referred to the GVN's new 
legal framework on religion, but admitted that some local 
governments may have yet to take them seriously.  The 
Vatican is pleased with progress on religious freedom in 
Vietnam, exemplified by the recent ordinance of 57 new 
priests, the VFM said. 
 
¶6. (SBU) A/S Hill asked the Vice Foreign Minister to review 
our list of imprisoned political dissidents, and singled out 
Dr. Pham Hong Son, noting that Vietnam's willingness to show 
progress in this area will help to advance bilateral 
relations.  Responding that he had put all his political 
weight on last year's amnesties, VFM Bang said he has no 
information about when the next amnesty will be.  This 
process is considered on a year-by-year and case-by-case 
basis, but the GVN will work in close consultation with the 
Embassy on prioritizing the list and addressing concerns. 
 
Big Brother China 
----------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) VFM Bang praised the United States for successfully 
 
HANOI 00000250  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
reaching out to Asian countries last year, particularly 
ASEAN members.  He said Vietnam views this as a positive 
sign that the United States is making its presence felt in 
the region, thereby giving more confidence to Asian 
countries to deal on a more equal footing with countries 
like China that had an "overwhelming" presence. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Acknowledging that China is important to Vietnam, 
VFM Bang said that the two countries must work together 
closely, but that Vietnam would not have its ambitions 
dampened by its "big brother."  Vietnam feels the heat of 
China's "heavy-handed actions" in the same way that Japan 
and Taiwan do.  Still, Vietnam must nurture its relations 
with China as it does with the United States.  A/S Hill 
responded that the United States is committed to good 
relations with China and has no desire to create conflict 
between China and its regional neighbors, including Vietnam. 
Political progress in China has not kept pace with economic 
progress, and it must deal with that reality as it moves 
ahead, A/S Hill noted. 
 
Other Regional Neighbors 
------------------------ 
 
¶9. (SBU) While discussing Burma and North Korea, Bang was 
quick to distance Vietnam from the two countries, stressing 
that they are in a separate political and economic 
territory, one which Vietnam feels fortunate to have left 
behind years ago.  Vietnam is interested in opening its 
country, inviting the growth of democracy and implementing 
economic reforms, while manifesting its independence, steps 
that Burma and North Korea should follow. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) Hill expressed concerns about human rights issues 
in Cambodia and asked Bang for advice on interacting with 
Prime Minister Hun Sen.  Bang responded that Hun Sen is 
pragmatic and nationalistic, but wants to be in control of 
his country.  He further suggested that building a comfort 
level of communication and inviting Hun Sen to visit the 
United States could help strengthen the U.S. message.  China 
has been infusing Cambodia with cash, including a recent $13 
million non-conditional gift, that demonstrates its growing 
influence there, he warned. 
 
APEC and the Year Ahead 
----------------------- 
 
¶11.  (SBU) A/S Hill reiterated Vietnam's hosting of APEC and 
WTO prospects all point to a positive year ahead.  A/S Hill 
invited Bang to the U.S. for a discussion of regional issues 
as well as preparations for APEC and the President's visit. 
VFM Bang thanked Hill for frank and fruitful discussions, 
and pledged Vietnam's commitment to strengthening APEC.  He 
also underscored Vietnam's eagerness to host the President 
on his first visit to Vietnam, suggesting visits to an HIV- 
AIDS project and an MIA-POW accounting site on the fringes 
of APEC meetings. 
 
¶12. (U) Participants: 
 
United States 
------------- 
 
Assistant Secretary Christopher R. Hill 
Ambassador Michael W. Marine 
EAP Special Assistant Kamala Lakhdhir 
Pol/C Marc Knapper 
PAS Julie Chung (notetaker) 
 
Vietnam 
------- 
 
Vice Foreign Minister Bang 
Assistant Foreign Minister Nguyen Duc Hung 
Americas Department Deputy Director Nguyen Ba Hung 
Americas Department Deputy Director Nguyen Anh Dzung 
U.S. Desk Director Nguyen Hoanh Nam 
U.S. Officer Lai Thai Binh 
 
¶13. (U) A/S Hill has cleared this message. 
 
BOARDMAN