Cablegate: Pm Dung Gets the Ball Rolling On Working Group to Review

VZCZCXRO1416
PP RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #0951 2280725
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 150725Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8318
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 5019
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS HANOI 000951

COMMERCE FOR I/A A/S DSPOONER AND SSU

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD ETTC
SUBJECT: PM DUNG GETS THE BALL ROLLING ON WORKING GROUP TO REVIEW
NON-MARKET ECONOMY STATUS

1. (U) On August 13, 2008, Embassy Hanoi received the following
letter from Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung of Vietnam, addressed to
Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez, dated August 11. Post
has the original copy of the letter on file.

2. BEGIN TEXT:

Dear Mr. Secretary,

All members of my delegation and I are very impressed of the warm
welcome extended to us during our recent official visit to the U.S.
and highly appreciate the constructive exchange of views and ideas
we had with you on strengthening economic ties between our two
countries.

With regard to establishing a working group for expanding trade
cooperation, including issue of market economy status for Vietnam
you proposed in your letter dated June 24, 2008, I consider it as
necessary and useful and I fully support.

In order to push thing forward, I have instructed Mr. Vu Huy
Hoang-Minister of Industry and Trade, to work with you on details
and to appoint the Vietnamese co-chair of the group.

I expect the group will hold its first meeting in 2008 so as to join
in efforts to further develop bilateral cooperation between our two
countries in the coming time.

I wish you good health and success.

Sincerely,

Nguyen Tan Dung

END TEXT

MICHALAK

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