Before leaving Washington DC, Mr Dung met with Democrat Senator John Kerry, Republican Senator Richard Lugar, and other members of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Mr Dung acknowledged the senators’ contributions to promoting relations between Vietnam and the US, especially when the two countries are celebrating 15 years of diplomatic relations.

Mr Dung and the senators shared the view that bilateral relations have developed well towards a proactive and constructive partnership, all-round cooperation and mutual benefit and respect.

He proposed that the senators persuade the US government and Congress to soon grant the Generalised Preference System (GPS) to Vietnam, recognise Vietnam’s market economy status, and abolish unfair trade barriers and anti-dumping tariffs on commodities imported from Vietnam. 

He also asked the senators to support bilateral cooperation in education-training, and in addressing climate change and rising sea levels.

The same day, Mr Dung phoned former US President Bill Clinton and received officials from the US-Vietnam Dialogue Group on Agent Orange/Dioxin, and the Overseas Vietnamese Business Association in the US.