On October 27, Mrs Clinton began a two-week tour of Asia-Pacific countries, including Vietnam.

US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Kurt Campbell said that this is the sixth Asian tour during her term of office, showing the Obama administration’s keen interest in various issues related to strategies, politics, multilateral relations, economics and trade in the region.

During her stay in Vietnam, Mrs Clinton will also attend the East Asia Summit to underscore the interaction between politics and economics and the need to boost US exports to the region and make more commitments on economic issues.

Mrs Clinton’s stop over in Hanoi is a follow-on to the previous visit for the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

After Vietnam, the US Secretary of State will visit China, Cambodia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia.

Japanese Prime Minister to visit Vietnam

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan will pay a two-day official visit to Vietnam on October 30-31 to attend the ASEAN Summit.

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

At a press briefing on October 27, the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s deputy spokesperson Hidenobu Sobashima, said that the visit shows Japan’s keen interest in strengthening ties with Vietnam.

Since November 2006, this is the first official visit by Japanese Prime Minister to strengthen ties between the two countries.

Sobashima said he hopes that the talks between the two Prime Ministers will be successful. They will discuss a wide range of issues to boost bilateral ties, including infrastructure development, security co-operation and closer coordination at international forums.

Sobashima added that two other issues included in the agenda are related to nuclear power plants and a high-speed railway line.

Japan also wants to sign nuclear co-operation agreement with Vietnam as soon as possible, he said.

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan will arrive in Hanoi on October 28 to attend meetings related to the ASEAN Summit, including the second Mekong-Japan Summit, the ASEAN+ 3 Summit and the East Asian Summit.

At the reception, PM Dung said the presence of Mr. Lee Hsien Loong will make an important contribution to the success of the ASEAN summit. He also expressed delight at the development of a strong friendship between the two nations in all fields. He affirmed that both sides will further promote cooperation, especially in the field of economics, trade and investment.

Regarding agreements signed among businesses, PM Dung asked both nations to continue to strengthen cooperation in the field of national defence and post traduate education.

The Singaporean leader highlighted achievements made by Vietnam in all fields and affirmed his support to promote relations between the two countries and cooperate effectively in both regional and international forums.

Both leaders also expressed delight at the developments of comprehensive relations between the two nations in the past, and highlighted the active implementation of the Vietnam-Singapore framework agreement which connect the two economies and the effective operations of Vietnam-Singapore’s industrial parks.

The two PMs also discussed measures to promote cooperative relations between the two nations in the future in such fields as training and education, culture, science and technology and national defense.

They also agreed that peace and stability in the East Sea are the interests and aspirations of nations in the region, affirming that both countries will continue to co-ordinate to promote the implementation of the declaration on the conduct of parties in the East Sea (DOC) and Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

After the reception, the two PMS witnessed the signing of four cooperative investment agreements worth US$290 million among businesses of the two countries.

At a meeting with the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, who is in Vietnam to attend the ASEAN Summit and other related meetings, in Hanoi on October 28, PM Dung thanked the Sultan for his sympathy for Vietnamese flood victims. He proposed that both countries sign an investment protection agreement and a memorandum of understanding on fisheries to promote trade and co-operation in labour and agriculture. Vietnam is ready to export rice to Brunei, Mr Dung confirmed.

PM Dung praised Brunei’s support for Vietnam as ASEAN chair and Vietnam’s initiative to organise the ASEAN Defence Ministerial Meeting.

Sultan Bolkiah proposed that both countries continue to boost co-operation in trade, investment, fisheries, and agriculture and to work closer at regional and international forums.

Both leaders agreed that peace and stability in the East Sea is beneficial to every country in the region, pledged to coordinate in implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and formulating a Code of Conduct for the East Sea (COC).

The Korea Eximbank Chairman made the statement at his meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Hanoi on October 27.

PM Dung spoke highly of Korea Eximbank’s provision of loans for Vietnam for developing socio-economic infrastructure.

He said projects with the bank’s investment, especially the construction of Vam Cong bridge and the southern coastal road route, were important to Vietnam’s socio-economic development and contributed in a practical way to friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

PM Dung told the bank official that Vietnam’s biggest current challenge was investment for infrastructural development, especially transport systems, so the country is in dire need for international community’s assistance, including that of the Republic of Korea.

He asked Korea Eximbank to continue arranging loans for Vietnam to enable it to complete the construction of Vam Cong bridge and the southern coastal road route.

Korea Eximbank Chairman highly valued the Vietnamese government’s role in weathering economic crisis impact and maintaining the country’s economic growth.

He said he believed Vietnam would fulfill all development goals it has set forth.

Korea Eximbank and the Vietnamese Transport Ministry are working on loans for a series of transport infrastructure projects, including US$120 million for the southern coastal corridor road route, US$200 million for the construction of Vam Cong bridge, and  US$100 million for the building of Vinh Thinh bridge.