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Jul 8, 2015
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Obama, Vietnam leader discuss South China Sea in landmark meeting

By
Reuters
Published
Jul 8, 2015

U.S. President Barack Obama and the head of Vietnam's ruling communist party discussed concerns over China's activities in the South China Sea and the pending Pacific trade agreement during a historic White House meeting on Tuesday.

Nguyen Phu Trong met with Obama in the Oval Office, where they had "candid" discussions over differences about human rights and religious freedom as well a pending Pacific trade agreement with the region, Obama said.


Vietnam is one of a dozen countries in the TPP, a trade agreement the White House sees as a key legacy issue for the President because it will open more markets to U.S. products and help increase the administration's influence in the region as a counterweight to a rising China. China and Vietnam have been at odds over maritime claims in the South China Sea, with China building islands in waters also claimed by Vietnam.

Trong, one of the most powerful figures in Vietnam, invited Obama to visit his country and said he was grateful that the president had graciously accepted. Obama said he looked forward to going to Vietnam, but no date was announced.

The Vietnamese leader's trip follows a year-long charm offensive by the United States after a dispute over sovereignty erupted between communist neighbors Vietnam and China in May 2014.

Washington took advantage of the row, ramping up diplomacy with Hanoi after China parked an oil rig unannounced in waters that Vietnam considers its domain.

Obama said the U.S.-Vietnam relationship was based on mutual respect and said in the last two years alone "significant progress" had been made in cooperation on education, climate change, public health and security.
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In a nod to Vietnam's concern about China, Obama said the South China Sea dispute needed to be resolved using international rules.

The goal was to "ensure that the prosperity and freedom of navigation that has underwritten the enormous economic growth that’s taken place in the region continues for decades to come," Obama said.

Trong, without naming China specifically, said he had shared Vietnam's concern about the South China Sea and "the recent activities that are not in accordance with international law that may complicate the situation."

China has laid stake to nearly all of the South China Sea, while Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei claim overlapping parts of it.
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Both men noted that the United States and Vietnam had made strides in their relationship.

"There continue to be significant differences in political philosophy and political systems between our two countries," Obama said, adding diplomacy would help overcome disagreements.

Trong said 20 years ago few would have imagined a substantive meeting between the countries' leaders.

"We have been transformed from former enemies to become friends, partners, comprehensive partners. And I’m convinced that our relationship will continue to grow in the future," he said through an interpreter.

Earlier this year in a letter addressed to the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of U.S. - Vietnam Relations, Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky emphasised the monetary significance of the ties between the two countries. "Since 2000, Vietnam has been the fastest growing of America’s 50 largest trade relationships. Most of this has been import growth, up from $800 million worth of coffee and shrimp in 2000 to $30 billion in clothing, furniture, consumer electronics, shoes, fish, rice, and processed foods in 2014,"she said.

"Americans bought more from Vietnam last year than from a number of much larger countries – Russia and Brazil, for example. And as of 2014, Vietnam surpassed Malaysia and Thailand to become ASEAN’s (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) top merchandise exporter to the United States," she continued.
 

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