Barack Obama met yesterday in the Oval Office with Nguyen Phu Trong, the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
In his remarks after the meeting, Communist Party chief Trong observed how extraordinary it was for the leader of Vietnam’s Communist Party to meet with the president of the United States.
He said: “I think that 20 years ago, not too many people would imagine a meeting--interesting meeting, a substantive meeting--between the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the President of the United States. “
The communist leader said one of the things he discussed with Obama was the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership, which would create a “free-trade” zone among 12 nations, including the U.S. and Communist Vietnam.
“In a constructive and candid manner, we also discussed our differences and the way forward, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the TPP, as well as the human rights issues,” Trong said.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP),” says a Congressional Research Service report published on March 20, “is a proposed regional free trade agreement (FTA) being negotiated among the United States, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.”
The State Department report on Human Rights in Vietnam, which was released last month, says: “The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is an authoritarian state ruled by a single party, the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), and led by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, and President Truong Tan Sang.”
“The government maintained limits on workers’ rights to form and join independent unions and did not enforce safe and healthy working conditions adequately,” said the State Department report on Vietnam. “Child labor persisted, especially in agricultural occupations.”
The Congressional Research Service said in its March report on the proposed TPP "free-trade" agreement that state-owned enterprises account for an “estimated to represent 40% of output” in Vietnam.
Here is the transcript of Communist Party General Secretary Trong’s statement in the Oval Office:
Thank you, Mr. President. And good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
I think that 20 years ago, not too many people would imagine a meeting--interesting meeting, a substantive meeting--between the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the President of the United States. And as the President just mentioned, we had a cordial, constructive, positive and frank discussion with each other. What is of utmost importance is that we have been transformed from former enemies to become friends, partners -- comprehensive partners. And I’m convinced that our relationship will continue to grow in the future.
I think these achievements are all to the strategic vision and the efforts by all leaders of the two countries, but also thanks to the support -- the full support of the peoples of the two countries. Because it is in their interest that we want to promote this relationship. This relationship is also contributing significantly to peace, stability, cooperation for prosperity in the region and around the world.
Like the President just mentioned, there has been a bad, difficult chapter in our history, but we have been able to rise above the past to overcome differences, to promote our shared interests, and look towards a future in order to build the comprehensive partnership that we have today. And as I mentioned to the President in our meeting, the past cannot be changed, but the future depends on our action, and it is our responsibility to ensure a bright future.
At the meeting today, the President and I reviewed the growth of our relations over the past 20 years, and we also discussed and agreed on the major directions for moving our relationship forward to make it more substantive, more positive, to build the mutual trust and cooperation between the two countries. And we agreed to continue to promote the comprehensive relationship between the two countries in all areas, ranging from political, diplomatic cooperation, to economic, trade, investment, education and training, environment, public health, responding to climate change, to defense and security cooperation, as well as better collaboration at regional and international forums.
In a constructive and candid manner, we also discussed our differences and the way forward, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the TPP, as well as the human rights issues. At the same time, we discussed and shared our views on the recent developments in the South China Sea, and also shared our concern about the recent activities that are not in accordance with international law that may complicate the situation.
And I had the particular honor to extend our invitation to the President and the First Lady to visit Vietnam, and I’m glad that the President had graciously accepted my invitation.
Once again, I would like to thank the President and the U.S. government for inviting me to visit your beautiful country. And allow me also to take this opportunity to send my greetings and best regards to the Vietnamese community here in the United States. We hope for further growth in our relationship.
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/cnsnewscom-staff/communist-chief-oval-office-20-years-ago-few-would-imagine-vietnams
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