VZCZCXRO6124
OO RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #1422/01 3620656
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 280655Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0648
INFO RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHMCSUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0043
RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI
RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 0311
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 001422 
 
SIPDIS 
EAP/MLS PLEASE PASS TO NSC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON ASEAN VM
SUBJECT: Letter to NSA Jones from DPM/FM Pham Gia Khiem 
 
¶1.  After work hours December 24, Post received an electronic copy 
of a letter to National Security Advisor Jones from Deputy Prime 
Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem, which we sent to 
EAP/MLS to be forwarded to the NSC staff.  Text of the letter is as 
follows: 
 
 
 
¶2.  Begin text: 
 
 
 
Hanoi, December 24, 2009 
 
 
 
General James L. Jones, USMC, Ret. 
 
National Security Advisor 
 
The White House 
 
Washington, D.C. 20506, USA 
 
 
 
Dear Mr. Advisor, 
 
 
 
Thank you for your October 5th 2009 letter. As you did, I also 
regretted not being able to meet with you during my recent visit to 
the United States. Yet, I understand you were too busy with many 
pressing matters at the time. I feel satisfied with the results of 
that visit and glad to know that since then the relations between 
our two countries have continued to develop. 
 
 
 
I fully share President Barack Obama's views on the importance of 
strengthening relationship between our two countries as well as 
broadening areas of shared interests and huge cooperative 
potentials including, inter alia, education and training, science 
and technology, humanitarian relief and cooperation at 
international forums. Viet Nam - U.S. relations have in recent past 
recorded positive and solid achievements and now are facing the 
opportunity to develop more substantively. I always highly 
appreciate your extremely important role in promoting the relations 
of friendship, constructive partnership and multi-faceted 
cooperation between our two countries. 
 
 
 
The year 2010 will mark the 15th anniversary of the establishment 
of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and the United States. I 
have instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate 
closely with the U.S. side to organize commemorative activities of 
this occasion in a most significant way. This will be an 
opportunity for us to highlight the great achievements in Viet Nam 
- U.S. relations and a milestone for the new stage of its 
development. The year 2010 will also see Viet Nam taking over the 
Chairmanship of ASEAN. In this position, together with other member 
countries, Viet Nam is willing to strengthen the ASEAN - U.S. 
cooperation, promote the ASEAN economic integration process and 
properly address related regional issues, thus contributing toward 
building a strong ASEAN community and effectively coping with new 
regional changes as well as global challenges. We hope that the 
United States, in the capacity as a top important partner of ASEAN, 
will carry out its strong commitment toward the region for peace, 
stability, cooperation and development as affirmed by President 
Obama in the 1st ASEAN - U.S. Summit Meeting in Singapore in 
November 2009. Along this line, Viet Nam is prepared to host the 
2nd ASEAN - U.S. Summit Meeting and also the 2nd U.S. - Lower 
Mekong Ministerial Meeting in Hanoi in 2010. We are looking forward 
to welcoming President Obama to pay an official visit to Viet Nam 
on this occasion with yourself Mr. Advisor and Secretary of State 
Hillary Clinton in his entourage. 
 
 
 
On the occasion of the Christmas Season and the New Year, I would 
like to extend to you and your family my best wishes. I hope that 
we will continue receiving your support for the stronger and 
 
HANOI 00001422  002 OF 002 
 
 
durable development of Viet Nam - U.S. relations. 
 
 
 
(Signed) 
 
 
 
PHAM GIA KHIEM 
 
 
 
¶3.  End text. 
Michalak