Statement before the Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
March 12, 2008
View Video
Introduction Chairman Boxer, Senator Murkowski, and Members of the Subcommittee,
thank you for inviting me to testify today on the subject of
U.S.-Vietnam bilateral relations. I have just returned from a trip to
Hanoi and am pleased to have this opportunity to share my impressions
of Vietnam with you. The U.S.-Vietnam relationship has expanded in an impressive number
of areas since we re-established diplomatic relations with Vietnam in
1995. President Bush’s trip to Hanoi in November 2006 for the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum meeting and President Triet’s
visit to Washington in June 2007 reflect the advances in our
relationship. Problems remain, especially in the area of human rights.
Overall, we have made broad progress on issues where our interests
coincide, as well as in our ability to engage candidly on the areas
where we differ. Continued engagement with Vietnam is clearly in U.S.
interests. Read the full story here.
