TEXT: ALBRIGHT-CAM 6/28 PRESS REMARKS IN HANOI
(U.S.-Vietnam relationship deepening)

Hanoi -- The new agreement on copyrights, the planned U.S. consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, and the excellent dialogue between U.S. and Vietnamese officials on a whole range of issues signify the increased deepening of the U.S.-Vietnam relationship, according to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

Following is the official transcript of remarks to the press by Albright and Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cam:

(begin transcript)

Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright
and Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cam

Press remarks

Government Guest House
Hanoi, Vietnam

June 28, 1997

As released by the Office of the Spokesman
in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

June 29, 1997

U.S. Department of State

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Good Morning. I am very pleased to be here in Vietnam to discuss a wide range of issues with Foreign Minister Cam. I am also very pleased that I have just come over to join the foreign minister in signing a bilateral agreement on copyrights that will provide needed protection for intellectual property. This agreement is an important step in normalizing the U.S.-Vietnamese relationship based on the rule of law. I congratulate the negotiators from both countries for this agreement and look forward to its vigorous enforcement.

I am also pleased to announce the United States' intention to establish a consulate in Ho Chi Minh City and tomorrow morning I will participate in a ceremony celebrating the start of construction. This initiative is a very clear reflection of the steady broadening of U.S.-Vietnamese relations and the very substantial presence of American business, students, tourists, private voluntary organizations and other Americans here in Vietnam.

I would like to thank the Foreign Minister for the excellent dialogue we have had this morning where we were able to cover a whole range of issues. This signifies, I think, also, the increased deepening of our relationship.

FOREIGN MINISTER CAM: Your Excellency, Madam Madeleine Albright, distinguished American guests, ladies and gentlemen. This morning we had very substantial talks to cover a wide range of issues relating to the bilateral relations between the two countries. After the talks this morning, we believe that together with the visit of Madam Secretary, we will be able to contribute a great deal to the further advancement of our bilateral relations in the time to come. Just now Madam Albright and I, on behalf of our respective governments, have signed an agreement between the two countries on the establishment of the copyrights. This agreement indicates the aspirations and determinations displayed by our two governments in building a legal framework appropriate for the development of multifaceted relationship between our two nations.

I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome the decision made by the U.S. administration to open its consulate general in Ho Chi Minh City on the basis of the mutual agreement between the two countries. Vietnam is also actively preparing for its early opening of the consulate general of Vietnam in San Francisco. Those are the important and significant steps forward in the overall relationship between our two nations. We hope that the two sides will continue to carry on these positive cooperation into many other fields especially in a process of moving forward to the full normalization of our economic ties.

We welcome once again the visit by Her Excellency, the Secretary of State of the United States of America, and stand ready to cooperate together with the U.S. to do whatever we can in supporting the further growth in our bilateral relations meeting the aspiration and interest of our two nations and for the sake of peace, stability, and development in the region and the world at large. Once again I would like to warmly welcome Her Excellency on her visit to Vietnam. I believe that her visit will be a great success.

(end transcript)

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