OF VIETNAM’S MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON 3rd DECEMBER 2004

DPA, AP: It has been claimed that US Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez has been denied visa to Vietnam? What's Vietnam's objection to her visit?

Answer:

Recently, the Office and the Committee of External Relations of the National Assembly of Vietnam have sent to the U.S side notifications concerning the request to visit Vietnam by US Representative Loretta Sanchez.

In the past years, Viet Nam-US relations have witnessed encouraging advances in many fields and through different channels, including that between the US Congress and the Vietnamese National Assembly, as demonstrated by the increasing number of US Congressmen who visit Vietnam and vice-versa. For the sake of promoting relations of cooperation based on an equal footing, mutual benefit and mutual respect, Vietnam’s National Assembly extends consistent support to US-Vietnam exchange and dialogue conducted in an open spirit and with good will. In that spirit, Vietnam has welcomed many US Congressional delegations and staff, including Representative Loretta Sanchez.

Regrettably, however, following two visits to Viet Nam in 1999 and 2000, Representative Loretta Sanchez still has activities and statements that are totally biased and ill-willed towards Vietnam, causing dissent among the Vietnamese public opinion. The Vietnamese National Assembly and public share the view that a visit to Vietnam by Ms. Loretta Sanchez at this time would not serve Vietnam-US relations.