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FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0216
INFO ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHMCSUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0016
RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 0058
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000845 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OVIP PREL PGOV PHUM ECON ETRD KN CH VM
SUBJECT: Deputy Secretary Steinberg's September 27, 2009 Conversation 
with Vietnam Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung 
 
¶1.  (SBU) September 27, 2009; 10:40 am; The Office of Government; 
Hanoi 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Participants: 
 
U.S. 
---- 
The Deputy Secretary 
Ambassador Michael Michalak 
Joseph Donovan, EAP Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary 
Scot Marciel, EAP Deputy Assistant Secretary 
Rear Admiral Charles Leidig, Joint Chiefs of Staff 
Amb. Joseph DeTrani, Directorate of National Intelligence 
Derek Mitchell, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense 
Pamela Park, Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary 
Clifford Reed, S/ES-O 
Harry Kamian, Political Counselor, U.S. Embassy Hanoi 
Michael Goldman, Deputy Political Counselor (Notetaker) 
 
VIETNAM 
------- 
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung 
Bui Huy Hung, Office of Government Director General 
Le Hung Hoang, Deputy DG, MFA Americas Department 
Tran Quang Trung, MFA Americas Department 
Office of Government notetaker 
 
¶3.  (SBU) SUMMARY: In a cordial meeting September 27, the Deputy 
Secretary and Vietnam's Standing Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh 
Hung affirmed that, overall, bilateral relations continued to 
improve and agreed to work together more closely as Vietnam assumes 
ASEAN's Chair in 2010.  Hung reiterated an invitation for President 
Obama to attend a U.S.-ASEAN summit in Hanoi, arguing that it was 
time for the United States to have a "greater voice" within ASEAN, 
particularly on issues related to the South China Sea.  The Deputy 
Secretary reaffirmed our commitment to regional engagement and 
urged ASEAN countries, individually and as a group, to play an 
important role in nonproliferation initiatives.  The two sides 
expressed support for increased cooperation on economic 
development, health, education, and climate change; the Deputy 
Secretary noted, however, that  to do this, the U.S. mission 
required adequate staffing.  The Deputy Secretary emphasized that 
good governance, transparency, and a free press were essential to 
creating favorable conditions for continued foreign investment. 
Alluding to a controversial decree severely restricting independent 
research institutions, the Deputy Secretary said Vietnam's ability 
to attract U.S. educational partners would depend in large part on 
Vietnam's perceived commitment to basic academic freedoms.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
Bilateral Relations 
------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Apologizing for the Prime Minister's absence, Vietnam's 
Standing Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung began his September 
27 meeting with the Deputy Secretary by emphasizing the positive 
trajectory of bilateral relations, particularly in the area of 
trade, but also in education, health, the environment, 
military-military engagement, and "war legacy" issues.  Hung placed 
particular emphasis on the threat posed by rising sea levels, 
identifying climate change as a challenge second only to economic 
development and poverty reduction, and encouraged the United States 
to continue joint efforts in this regard.  Hung also pressed the 
United States to increase its contributions to international 
financial institutions such as the Asian Development Bank. 
Vietnam's leadership was aware of the two countries' "sad past," 
Hung continued, but had decided to "give priority" to advancing 
U.S.-Vietnam ties.  This was particularly true as Vietnam prepared 
to assume the Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2010.  Noting the favorable 
impact of previous presidential visits, Hung reiterated an 
invitation for President Obama to visit Hanoi for a revitalized 
U.S.-ASEAN Summit. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The Deputy Secretary praised Vietnam for the remarkable 
economic progress it had made since he worked to reestablish 
diplomatic relations as a member of the Clinton Administration in 
the mid 1990s.  He congratulated Vietnam on the imminent opening of 
its consulate in Houston and said that the United States was eager 
to work with Vietnam to deepen the relationship.  Alluding to long 
GVN delays in approving new positions, the Deputy Secretary also 
stressed that to be able to increase engagment, the U.S. Embassy 
 
HANOI 00000845  002 OF 002 
 
 
and HCMC Consulate needed to be adequately staffed. 
 
ASEAN, Nonproliferation, and South China Sea 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Noting the Secretary's visit to the ASEAN Secretariat and 
the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, the Deputy 
Secretary emphasized that the United States was committed to 
deepening its engagement with Asia and the ASEAN in particular. 
The Secretary was particularly interested in the Lower Mekong 
Initiative as a promising way to tackle, regionally, many of the 
issues that Hung had raised, including health, development, and the 
environment.  The Deputy Secretary urged the countries of ASEAN -- 
individually and as a body -- to work closely with the United 
States to further the international community's interest in 
nonproliferation, particularly as articulated in UNSCR 1887. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Vietnam welcomed U.S. engagement in the region, DPM Hung 
stressed, adding that it was time the United States developed a 
"greater voice" within ASEAN.  This was particularly true with 
regard to the South China Sea, Hung said, noting U.S. investments 
in the oil/gas sector.  Hung did not specify how the United States 
should become more involved or offer particulars about Vietnam's 
own approach, except to say that his government supported the 
Declaration of Conduct that the ASEAN countries had initiated with 
China and to reiterate that Vietnam was committed to a peaceful 
settlement in accord with the 1982 Law of the Sea (UCLOS).  The 
Deputy Secretary noted that while it did not take a position on the 
competing legal/territorial claims in the South China Sea, the 
United States encouraged all sides to come together and settle 
their differences peacefully.  He said that he appreciated 
Vietnam's commitment to a peaceful, multilateral solution and 
assured Hung that the United States also valued UNCLOS and had made 
ratification a priority. 
 
Human Rights, Media Freedom, and Academic Freedom 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶8.  (SBU) The Deputy Secretary emphasized the importance of human 
rights to many of the priorities enumerated by DPM Hung.  Good 
governance, transparency, and a free press were, for example, 
essential to creating favorable conditions for continued foreign 
investment.  Likewise, as a former university dean, he said he 
could attest to the vital importance of academic freedom.  Alluding 
to a controversial Prime Ministerial decree ("Article 97") severely 
restricting the activities of independent research institutions, 
the Deputy Secretary said that Vietnam's ability to attract U.S. 
educational partners would depend in large part on the degree to 
which scholars are able to conduct research freely and share their 
findings.  When discussing human rights, the United States was 
committed to a real dialogue, he emphasized; as President Obama had 
said in his trip to Africa, every country has its own history, 
experiences, and developmental path.  DPM Hung declined to respond 
directly to the Deputy Secretary's remarks, but agreed that 
dialogue was important.  Vietnam was "democratic" he insisted, 
because decisions are made collectively and in the interests of the 
people. 
 
¶9.  (U) The Deputy Secretary cleared this message. 
 
MICHALAK 
Michalak