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DOT 132-03
Contact: Bill Mosley
Tel.: (202) 366-4570
Thursday, December 4, 2003
United States, Vietnam Sign Historic Air Services Agreement, The First Ever
Between the Two Countries
As part of the continuing effort to strengthen U.S.-Vietnam relations,
ease travel and expand trade between the two countries, U.S. Transportation
Secretary Norman Y. Mineta and Vietnamese Transport Minister Dao Dinh Binh today
signed the first-ever comprehensive U.S.-Vietnam air services agreement.
“Since the bilateral trade agreement between our countries took effect in
December 2001, our economic ties have become stronger,” said Secretary Mineta.
“The United States and Vietnam engaged in almost $3 billion in direct trade in
the past year. Today’s agreement solidifies that partnership and lays the
groundwork for even greater growth and success in our economic relationship.”
The Secretary added that the agreement also will make it easier to travel
between the two countries, helping to reunite families and further strengthening
human ties between the two nations.
Today’s historic agreement allows the airlines of both countries to
provide U.S.-Vietnam air service with their own aircraft as well as unlimited
code sharing. It contains some restrictions on air services, and will remain in
effect for five years. The two sides agreed to meet within four years to
consider a further expansion of air service opportunities, at which time the
United States will seek a fully liberalized Open-Skies agreement.
The agreement’s text was initialed on Oct. 9 after several rounds of
discussions. The two sides had first expressed interest in concluding an air
transport agreement shortly after the lifting of the U.S. economic embargo on
Vietnam in 1994.
Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan, Vietnamese Ambassador to the
United States Nguyen Tam Chien, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Raymond Burghardt and
U.S. industry representatives also attended today’s ceremony in Washington, DC.
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