At the meeting with the US Secretary of State, the two sides expressed their pleasure at the recent steps of development of the two countries' relationship. Deputy Prime Minister Khiem thanked the US for its support for Viet Nam's accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and hoped the US parliament to early pass the permanent normal trade relations status with Viet Nam and increase humanitarian assistance for Viet Nam.

The US Secretary of State affirmed that both President George Bush and she personally paid attention to promoting the expected approval of the PNTR status with Viet Nam by the parliament, and highly appreciated Viet Nam's efforts in preparation for the 14th APEC Leaders' Conference in Ha Noi. She said that Viet Nam played an important role in the region and the world.

The two sides affirmed their efforts to prepare for President Bush's upcoming Viet Nam visit.

The Canadian Foreign Minister, Peter McCay, while meeting with Foreign Minister Khiem, said that the two countries' cooperative relations have seen fine development over the recent past, expressed his hope to continue promoting economic and trade relations with Viet Nam. He affirmed that his country would continue providing official development assistance and consider aid for a national programme on English teaching at junior secondary schools in Viet Nam.

During Foreign Minister Khiem's meeting with his counterpart from New Zealand, the two sides agreed on the current fine development of the two countries' relations. The New Zealand side pledged to continue its ODA which had been trebled recently for Viet Nam and said that it would help Viet Nam train teachers of English at general schools.