Politics

Major milestones in Vietnam-US relationship

The Vietnam-US relationship has come a long way in benefiting the two peoples since its normalisation in 1995.

The official US visit from July 6-10 by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong including talks with US President Barack Obama is seen as a “historic milestone” and a “higher stepladder” in the bilateral comprehensive partnership established in 2013.

The Vietnam-US relationship has come a long way in benefiting the two peoples since its normalisation in 1995.

The official US visit from July 6-10 by Party General Secretary NguyenPhu Trong including talks with US President Barack Obama is seen as a“historic milestone” and a “higher stepladder” in the bilateralcomprehensive partnership established in 2013.

The following is a chronology of key milestones in Vietnam-US ties:

August 1987: Envoy of US President, General John Vessey visits Vietnamfor the first time to discuss humanitarian issues of shared concern.

July 1991: The Office for Missing in Action Affairsofficially goes into operation, becoming the first US official agencypresent full-time in Vietnam since 1975.

December 1991: Washington lifts the ban on organised US travel to Vietnam.

November 1992: Restrictions on US telephone service to Vietnam islifted, allowing direct phone service between the two countries.

December 1992: US President George H. W. Bush allows US companies toopen representative offices in Vietnam and sign contracts after thetrade embargo is lift.

January 1995: The two countries sign an agreement establishing liaison offices in each capital.

July, 1995: US President Bill Clinton announces normalisation of relations with Vietnam.

July 2000: Vietnam and the US sign Bilateral Trade Agreement.

November 2000: Bill Clinton becomes the first US President to pay an official visit to Vietnam.

November 2006: US President George W. Bush visits Vietnam.

June 2005: Prime Minister Phan Van Khai visits the US at the invitation of President George W. Bush.

December 2006: US Congress approves Permanent Normal Trade Relation status for Vietnam.

June 2007: State President Nguyen Minh Triet visits the US at the invitation of President George W. Bush.

June 2008: Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung visits the US at the invitation of President George W. Bush.

July 2013: State President Truong Tan Sang pays official visit to USat the invitation of President Barack Obama. Both sides release JointStatements to establish their Comprehensive Partnership.

June 2014: Vietnam and the US sign the 123 Civil Nuclear Cooperation pact.

October 2014: US partially lifts lethal weapons ban on Vietnam.

2015: Both countries celebrate the 20 th anniversary of normalised relations.

July 2015: General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong pays official visit to the US.-VNA
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