Hanoi (AsiaNews) - The United States wants to increase cooperation with Vietnam, although there are "profound differences" in the vision of human rights and democracy, despite criticism of Hanoi for the repression against dissidents, attacks on religious groups and limited access to Internet.
This is what has emerged from US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton’s the visit to Vietnam, during the meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers, held in Hanoi.
Diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States were established in 1985 by President Bill Clinton, who in 2000 was also the first American head of Sato to visit Vietnam since the end of the war in 1975. Since then relations have been established in various areas, particularly those related to economic development.
The desire to further strengthen relations was expressed by Hillary Clinton during her visit. She stated that "the United Sati want to return to Asia." We see this relationship - Clinton said after a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem - not only as important on its own merits, but as part of a strategy aimed at enhancing American engagement in the Asia-Pacific and in particular Southeast Asia".
But on July 22, participating in celebrations for the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Secretary of State criticized the attitude towards dissents in Vietnam, including the area of human rights. During a meeting with reporters, Mrs. Clinton said that "Vietnam is on the path to becoming a great nation with an unlimited potential, however, we express concern about arrest and conviction of people for peaceful dissent, attacks on religious groups, and curbs on Internet freedom".
Nevertheless, the United States intends to expand cooperation with Vietnam in areas such as trade and investment, health, education, good governance and human rights. The United States wants to work with the Government of Vietnam, Hillary Clinton finally said, "in a spirit of cooperation and friendship" to " to support human rights reforms and the protection of basic rights and freedoms for Vietnamese people".