Vietnam President seeks 'fair' treatment by US

Hanoi, June 18: Vietnam wants ''equal and fair treatment'' in the US market, President Nguyen Minh Triet today said before leaving Hanoi on the first visit to the United States by a post-war Vietnamese head of state.

Triet told the source in an interview that he would discuss investment, education, but also human rights and a clean-up of wartime dioxin ''agent orange'' with U.S. President George W Bush in Washington on June 22.

''In terms of economic issues, Vietnam wants the US to provide favourable conditions in line with agreements of the WTO so that Vietnam's goods can penetrate into the US market with equal and fair treatment,'' he said at the airport at dawn as he prepared to leave on the six-day trip to New York, Washington and Los Angeles.

The president of one-party, communist-ruled Vietnam said his country would provide favourable conditions for American investors as it pushes towards industrialisation.

Triet's trip will be focused on trade, but he is also expected to face protests and criticism over the arrests of political activists.

today, he acknowledged differences between the two countries on human rights.

Vietnam joined the World Trade Organisation in January and two-way trade between the U.S. and Vietnam is 9.7 billion dollar.

''We invite investors in all areas but the priority is in the high-tech sector because we also need a fast approach to modern technology,'' Triet, 64, said as he stood in the VIP lounge, dressed in a dark suit and blue tie.

The friendship between Washington and Hanoi built over the 12 years since normalisation of diplomatic ties is mostly founded on trade and business.

Triet will be the first president to visit the former enemy since the war ended 32 years ago. In 2005 then-Prime Minister Phan Van Khai visited Washington. Two US presidents have been to Hanoi, Bill Clinton in 2000 and Bush last November.

Thorny Issues

Two thorny issues remain: Vietnam's jailing of political activists calling for a multi-party system and the lingering effects of wartime ''agent orange'' sprayed by the US and South Vietnam forces to defoliate jungles used by communist troops.

''As regards dioxin, we will discuss how to help the victims facing difficulties in their lives and, secondly, the clean-up of the areas contaminated by dioxin,'' said Triet, who arrives on the same day a US appeals court in New York hears arguments on whether victims may sue chemical manufacturers.

Two years ago, a US court turned down the case.

In late May, Bush signed a bill that provides 3 million dollar toward health and environment issues stemming from dioxin, the first time Washington has legislated aid for this purpose.

Dioxin is a small compound within the ''agent orange'' herbicide that is one of the most toxic compounds known.

The United States maintains there is no scientifically proven link between dioxin and the three million people Vietnam estimates are disabled or suffer from its effects.

Differences over human rights go back years but have come to a head after about 20 political activists were detained or put on trial since Vietnam hosted an Asia-Pacific summit last November.

On human rights, Triet said, ''there is still a difference on this issue''. He pointed to differences in the two countries' history, development and legal systems.

''That's why we have enhanced exchanges and dialogues to resolve the issue,'' Triet said. ''This will be discussed frankly and in a fair way.'' Since May 10, Vietnam has freed three people on a US list of those it said should be released from imprisonment or detention.

Reuters>