Cablegate: Oog Chairman Phuc Will Head Vietnam's Tifa Council

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RR RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #1963 3240306
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 200306Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6740
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 3962

UNCLAS HANOI 001963

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS
STATE PASS USTR FOR DBISBEE
USDOC FOR 4430/MAC/ASIA/OPB/VLC/HPPHO

SENSITIVE
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON EINV VM
SUBJECT: OOG CHAIRMAN PHUC WILL HEAD VIETNAM'S TIFA COUNCIL
DELEGATION

REF: HANOI 1438

1. (U) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent Post a November 19
Diplomatic Note announcing that Office of the Government Minister
Chairman Nguyen Xuan Phuc, as Chairman of Vietnam's Trade and
Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council (Reftel), will head
the Vietnamese delegation to Washington for the first meeting of the
Council, scheduled for mid-December. Full text of the diplomatic
note follows in paragraph 2.

2. (U) FULL TEXT OF DIPLOMATIC NOTE (Unofficial Translation):

No. 670/BNG-KTDP

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of
America and, with regard to the promotion of bilateral relations
under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement between Vietnam
and the United States (TIFA), has the honor to inform as follows:

H.E. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Minister, Chairman of the Government
Office, Chairman of Vietnam's TIFA Council, will be heading the
Vietnamese delegation to participate in the first meeting of the
Council, scheduled to be organized in mid-December in Washington
D.C., the United States of America.

The Ministry has the honor to inform so that both sides will proceed
with the preparation for the mentioned meeting.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the
United States of America in Hanoi the assurances of its highest
considerations.

Hanoi, November 19, 2007

3. (U) No signed original to follow.

4. (SBU) Comment: The Office of the Government (OOG) is at the
heart of the government process in Vietnam and serves as a
"clearinghouse" for crosscutting and inter-ministerial issues. As
OOG Minister Chairman, Phuc is a close advisor to Prime Minister
Nguyen Tan Dung. Minister Phuc has been an engaged and valued
interlocutor on a range of bilateral issues, and his assignment as
TIFA Council Chairman demonstrates the value the Government of
Vietnam places on the TIFA as a vehicle to advance bilateral trade
and investment relations. End comment.

MICHALAK

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