VIETNAM: CLINTON VISIT TO HO CHI MIN CITY

(19 Nov 2000) English/Nat
XFA
President Clinton on Sunday wrapped up his history-making visit to Vietnam with a whirlwind day in Ho Chi Minh City, the former Saigon.
He attended a road safety event, where he was serenaded by children wearing bicycle helmets.
The president joined them in helping to encourage locals to wear protective gear while cycling in the city, where traffic injuries and deaths are a big problem.
After the event, Clinton travelled to the new marine container terminal, a joint venture between a Vietnamese state-owned company and a multinational firm.
At the shipping dock on the Saigon River - and under the shadow of two giant cranes - he said he could not wait to see what Vietnam's people accomplish when they fully open their economy and society.
The United States and Vietnam signed a sweeping trade agreement in July that will force major economic reforms and allow generally unfettered commerce.
Concluding his historic visit, Clinton urged the communist nation to open its economy and allow greater individual freedoms, saying the rewards of a free-market system "should be embraced, not feared."
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"You will grow even more as your economy becomes more open and the rule of law develops. More investment will come when people see Vietnamese entrepreneurs creating companies like OPL and many more companies like OPL will be created if foreign and domestic investors see barriers to investment fall and a more business friendly Vietnam."
SUPER CAPTION: President Bill Clinton
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Overseas Vietnamese want to invest in your country, not only with their money but with their hearts. We are glad to be helping them to return and we thank you, the people and the government of Vietnam for welcoming them home."
SUPER CAPTION: President Bill Clinton
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I came here in part because I believe that America and Vietnam are linked not just be a shared and often tragic past that must be honoured and remembered but that we have a bright future that we can build together to liberate our children and their potential. The years of animosity are past. Today we have a shared interest in your well being and prosperity. We have a stake in your future and we wish to be your partners."
SUPER CAPTION: President Bill Clinton
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I don't actually have high expectations in terms of any immediate effects here. The trade agreement that was recently signed was certainly very beneficial to the country and the benefits of that will certainly be more foreign investment from other countries like Taiwan, Japan, Korea and so on. We are expecting that maybe the Americans will come in a little bit, a few more years."
SUPER CAPTION: Representative of financial company, Arthur Anderson
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Bill Clinton, he says that American investors invest in Vietnam not only by money but also by heart. Yes."
SUPER CAPTION: Local businessman
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HER . HERE DISTRICT SEVEN - CITY HCM . YEAR 2000. I GOOD LUCKY VERY WELL IN NATIONAL VIETNAM.

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Ông Bill Clinton luôn giành tình cảm cho Việt Nam

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Cảm ơn ngài tổng thống Mỹ chúng tôi rất vui mừng vì hai nước bình thường hóa quan hệ .

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