Posted on 06/21/2005 10:08:19 AM PDT by tallhappy
June 21, 2005 Tuesday
TYPE: MEDIA AVAILABILITY
LENGTH: 826 words
HEADLINE: GEORGE W. BUSH HOLDS A MEDIA AVAILABILITY WITH PRIME MINISTER PHAN VAN KHAI OF VIETNAM
SPEAKER: GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
LOCATION: WASHINGTON, D.C.
BODY:
PRESIDENT BUSH HOLDS A MEDIA AVAILABILITY WITH PRIME MINISTER PHAN VAN KHAI OF VIETNAM
JUNE 21, 2005
SPEAKERS: GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
PHAN VAN KHAI, PRIME MINISTER OF VIETNAM
BUSH: There will be two opening statements this morning.
Mr. Prime Minister, welcome. I want to thank you for the constructive visit we just had.
We discussed a wide range of subjects. We discussed our economic relations. And I noted that the Vietnamese economy is growing quite substantially. We talked about our desire for Vietnam to join the WTO.
And we talked about security issues and the mutual desire to coordinate in the war on terror.
And we talked about humanitarian issues. As the prime minister noted, the United States is supporting the fight against HIV/AIDS in Vietnam. And he gave me a report on the progress about our mutual desire to help those who suffer with HIV/AIDS.
We signed a landmark agreement that will make it easier for people to worship freely in Vietnam.
BUSH: And finally, I want to thank the prime minister for his government's willingness to continue to work on finding the remains of those who lost their lives in Vietnam.
It's very comforting to many families here in America to understand that the government is providing information to help close a sad chapter in their lives.
And, finally, the prime minister graciously invited me to Vietnam. I will be going in 2006. I'm looking forward to my trip. I'm also looking forward to the APEC summit that Vietnam will be hosting.
Mr. Prime Minister, welcome.
PHAN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Thank you very much, Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen.
At the invitation of President George W. Bush, it gives me great pleasure and honor as the first Vietnamese prime minister to pay an official visit to the United States.
PHAN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): And this event in itself shows that Vietnam-U.S. relations have, in fact, entered a new stage of development.
My visit to America this time coincides with the 10th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations.
During the talks that I had with Mr. President, Mr. President and I were pleased to note the significant developments in the two countries' relations, including the good progress made in addressing the various issues left over by the past as well as the various steps to be taken to expand our relations in the future.
PHAN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Mr. President and I also share the view that proceeding from the interests of the two countries and given the new developments in the region and the world, the two countries' relationship should be enhanced. And too, we should aim to build a friendly relationship, constructive partnership, comprehensive cooperation on a long-term and stable basis as well as on the basis of equality, mutual, respect and benefits.
We believe that America can find in Vietnam a potential cooperation partner. We have a population of 80 million people, which means a huge market for American businesses. And these people also very hardworking, creative and dynamic. And they are now working very hard to achieve the goal of building Vietnam into a strong country with wealthy people and a democratic and advanced society.
PHAN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Vietnam is also actively integrating itself into the world economy and wishes to be a friend and reliable partner of all countries in the international community.
I also highly appreciate Mr. President's strong support for Vietnam's early WTO accession. And we agreed that Vietnam's accession will be in the benefits of both countries. And we agreed to continue with our bilateral negotiations with the aim of concluding those very soon.
Mr. President and I also agreed that there remain differences between our two countries due to the different conditions that we have, the different histories and cultures. But we also agreed that we should work together, through constructive dialogues based upon mutual respect to reduce the distances, in order to improve our bilateral relations.
PHAN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): On international issues, Mr. President and I exchanged views on the recent developments in Asia and the Pacific which we are both concerned about. And we also agreed on the need to improve the effectiveness of APEC, for which the 2006 APEC Summit in Vietnam will be an important milestone.
PHAN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I am also delighted that President Bush has accepted my invitation to visit Vietnam and to attend the 2006 APEC summit.
And we also welcome your support for the organization of this summit.
I'm fully confident that my visit to America this time will help uplift the relationship between our two countries to a new height.
And I finally wish America prosperity and happiness to her people.
I thank you very much for your kindness.
BUSH: Thanks very much.
Good job. Thank you.
END
NOTES: [????] - Indicates Speaker Unknown [--] - Indicates could not make out what was being said.[off mike] - Indicates could not make out what was being said.
Nah, in 1979 China invaded Vietnam and quickly overtook several key cities. They slapped the Vietnamese around a little bit and left. The Vietnamese regular army did not even take part, leaving the fighting up to local militias who took severe losses. After two- three weeks the Chinese left under international pressure and condemnation, but having shown the Vietnamese who was "boss".
Some of Kerry's treasonous acts took place during the actual war, but Kerry went to Vietnam in 1993 and 1999 to talk with communist officials and pose for photos. It was these later visits to Vietnam that Kerry took much heat over from the Bush camp.
As I see it, there are 55,000 American dead, and maybe a couple hundred thousand wounded during the war in an effort to take down that communist rat hole. Today it is still a communist rat hole, and I cannot for the life of me see why we would want to strengthen their economy and help build them up. Makes no sense whatsoever.
You're not supposed to notice. The R after the name makes it all better.
It is arguable whether that strategy is working in China or not. The tacit assumption in approaching Vietnam under such a thesis in containing China is that said strategy has seriously backfired.
Not necessarily an assumption that strategy has backfired. There is unfortunately the critical transition zone between the communist culture and the consumer culture, where suspenders are needed as well as a belt.
When the people in a communist country first come out from under the suppression of individual thought and begin to enjoy the consumer goods reward of individual action, they can go through a "nationalistic" phase that can be every bit as dangerous as the mindnumbed robots directed by ambitious despots phase.
Or so I've read.
Our main advantage is that God answers prayers, and a number of people in the U.S. take advantage of His merciful attention as well as a growing small band of Christians in The People's Republic of China.
Most here don't give a damn about the POWs....or the M.I.A.s.
Most here don't give a damn about the soldiers who go, at their Nations behest, to fight in some far off land. Done so with the implied PROMISE...that they will come back home..wether dead or alive. That their Families will KNOW of their fate.
Most here only care about making money...as if that, and that alone was the sole purpose of this Nation.
They are cowards and do not deserve to be called "Americans".
redrock
....as so many have done before.
redrock
We're winning The Vietnam War. Final victory is a function of our success in The War On Terror.
wrong as usual ace...
hate is about the man not about the administration policies
there is much I admire about the man and much I dislike about
some of the policies
If that makes me a hater than by the same brush paint yourself
a sychophant
imo
Don't make deals with "Charlie."
Your analysis sounds like what I was thinking...
They're gonna try and surround China with folks who don't want to become part of Chinas political machine, like, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Russia, India, hopefully, it will keep the Chinese government busy thinking of protecting it's own borders before they start moving out actually taking other lands...we'll see...
Hee Hee Hee. Anybody read Up Country by Nelson DeMille?
I don't think this is about economic trade.
Never get out of the boat.
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