VIETNAM: U.S. Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld begins key talks with Vietnamese military officials in latest advance in ties between the former enemies

Record ID: 184602

  • Title: VIETNAM: U.S. Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld begins key talks with Vietnamese military officials in latest advance in ties between the former enemies
  • Date: 5th June 2006
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF WELCOMING CEREMONY AS U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENCE DONALD RUMSFELD ARRIVES (2 SHOTS) TRA AND RUMSFELD SHAKING HANDS TRA AND RUMSFELD ON STAGE VARIOUS OF TRA AND RUMSFELD LISTENING TO U.S. AND VIETNAMESE NATIONAL ANTHEMS (7 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 20th June 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAATKEVLJRJLRF09AYB7GPNOEGN
  • Story Text: U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld began key talks with Vietnamese military officials on Monday (June 5) in the latest advance in ties between the former enemies who now cooperate on trade and security.
    Vietnam is one of several states in Asia that the Pentagon has built close ties with to conduct its "war on terror" and to hedge against a rising China, which Washington says is too secretive about its military spending and strategic intentions.
    U.S. military ties with Hanoi, 31 years after the end of the Vietnam war and and 11 years after the normalisation of diplomatic ties, have warmed gradually with ship visits and modest medical and educational exchanges.
    Rumsfeld, the second Pentagon chief to visit Vietnam since the fall of U.S. ally South Vietnam in 1975, held talks with his Vietnamese counterpart, Pham Van Tra, and and was due to meet Prime Minister Phan Van Khai later on Monday.
    Vietnam, a member of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations, will play host to U.S. President George W. Bush at this year's annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, a key economic grouping.
    Last week, U.S. and Vietnamese officials signed a pact that paves the way for Hanoi to join the World Trade Organisation by year-end. The deal requires Vietnam to cut tariffs and other barriers on a host of American goods and services.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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