US President George W. Bush on Tuesday met at the White House with Vietnamese Prime Minister PhanVan Khai, the first Vietnamese leader to visit Washington since the Vietnam War.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai kicked off his week-long visit to the United States on June 19, 2005, making himself the first Vietnam leader to set foot on the American soil ever since the Vietnam War ended thirty years ago. Therefore his visit is called an "ice-breaking tour".

The US and Vietnam became deadly foes due to the prolonged and cruel war three decades ago. The US-provoked and costly war killed more than one million Vietnamese as well as over 50, 000 Americans, leaving the bilateral ties frozen for a good twenty years after the war ended in 1975 before a normalization was realized in July 1995. Thereafter, the trade and economic relations between Vietnam and the US improved, yet the political relations progressed slowly and the leaders of both sides seldom had contacts. On the US side, only President Clinton visited Vietnam in 2000. Vietnamese leaders never appeared in the US. It is shown from the Vietnamese leader, heading a big team and timing the visit just before the tenth anniversary of the normalization of the bilateral relations, that Vietnam wishes to boost its relations with the US through this move, especially, "to strengthen the economic ties". It can be easily seen that after the Cold War, under the background of international relations being adjusted and the rapid economic development of its neighboring countries, Vietnam is extremely eager to improve its relations with the US, especially in trade and economic fields. Phan said that both sides "although divided over some sensitive issues, have had no major difference." He said that Vietnam will continue to cooperate with the US in a bid to promote its economic development.

Ever since the resumption of Vietnam-US diplomatic relationship in 1995, the bilateral economic exchanges constantly progressed �C the two-way trade volume increased from US$451 million to US$6.4 billion in 2004. In particular, trade growth accelerated after the agreement on bilateral trade was signed in 2001. According to estimates by Vietnamese Ministry of Trade, Vietnam's export to the US is expected to hit US$6.2 billion and US investment in the country will grow by 20 percent annually on average. Vietnam hopes new breakthroughs can be achieved through this visit in this regard. The entourage of over 80 entrepreneurs and Phan's meeting with some US businessmen clearly indicate such an intention.

According to public opinion, Phan has another purpose in the visit, that is to lobby the US to support Vietnam's joining the World Trade Organization (WTO). Vietnam is extremely longing to enter the global trade body and Washington undoubtedly plays a vital role. However, the US government has taken a low-key approach till now. If the US can be persuaded, it will naturally add points for Vietnam's WTO entry. For this, Vietnam even brought the US a weighty gift �C it would buy four Boeing 787, the worth of which exceeds US$500 million and it promised to further open its financial market to the US and to improve the protection of intellectual property rights.

The US arrangement of separate meetings of President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld with Phan shows that Washington attached high importance to the Vietnamese prime minister's visit. Regarding Vietnam, the US not only weighs the economic interest, but also has considerations in strategy. With respect to economic and trade ties, the US thinks Vietnam "has a good climate for investment" and is still a new market. However, strategically, the US hopes to transform the enemy in the past to today's partner on regional security that can be drawn in. Public opinion says, the US is trying to develop its relations with relatively small countries; it is making efforts to warm the bilateral military exchanges. Such "needs" of the US are crystal clear to both Vietnam and the international community.

People also see that, although the two sides are willing to "drop the past and look forward to the future", problems left from history and in reality are largely there. Numerous obstacles between the two countries are yet to be eliminated. For example, Vietnam is still dissatisfied with US compensation for the Agent Orange it used during the Vietnam War. Plus, Phan will be confronted with the US criticisms on the human rights situation in his country, especially in terms of "religious freedom".

It is hoped that Phan's "ice-breaking tour" this time will not only bring new opportunities to the development of Vietnam-US relations, but also produce positive influence on regional security.

By People's Daily Online