Vietnam defence chief plans U.S. visit

Vietnam defence chief plans U.S. visit

(EXCERPT) By Christina Toh-Pantin

HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnamese Defence Minister Pham Van Tra says he
will make an historic post-war visit to the United States in November,
adding that the U.S. Navy could make a port call before the end of the
year.

"We have decided to make it (the Washington visit) in early November
at the earliest pending the government's decision," Tra told reporters
on Tuesday on the sidelines of the opening session of Vietnam's
parliament, the National Assembly.

The first American trip by any Hanoi defence minister since the
Vietnam War ended in 1975 comes at the invitation of U.S. Defence
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and reciprocates one paid by then U.S.
defence chief William Cohen in March 2000.

The two countries restored diplomatic ties in 1995 and signed a
bilateral trade pact that took effect in December 2001.

Tra, in his first public comments on the trip, said it would "enhance
the understanding between the armies of the two countries", and
increase coope...

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