At a reception for the guest in Hanoi on January 13, the two sides expressed their satisfaction at the positive development in bilateral relations during the past 10 years since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1995 and Prime Minister Phan Van Khai visited the US in 2005.

The two sides affirmed that they will continue promoting bilateral relations based on the principles and agreements signed during Mr Khai’s US tour.
Mr Khoan praised the US for its efforts to boost economic-trade-investment relations with Vietnam, and to help the country combat the bird flu epidemic.

The two sides should co-operate more closely to successfully organise the 2006 APEC Summit to be held in Hanoi and prepare for US President Bush’s visit to Vietnam. Both countries should also promote dialogues to resolve different issues including removing Vietnam off the list of "countries of particular concern" over religious affairs, Mr khoan stressed.

The US pledged to go ahead with the implementation of bilateral agreements and support Vietnam’s efforts for international economic integration and its entry to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Earlier, Mr Hill paid a courtesy visit to Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien and had a working session with officials from the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry and the Party Central Committee’s External Relations Commission.