Bush and Triet recognise differences over rights

US President George W. Bush held landmark talks Friday with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Minh Triet, as they acknowledged differences over human rights and pledged to boost understanding. Triet is on the first visit to the United States by a Vietnamese head of state since the end of the Vietnam War more than three decades ago.
Bush said he had stressed the issue of human rights with Triet during their meeting, saying they had had a "frank and candid discussion." "I also made it very clear that in order for relations to grow deeper it's important for our friends to have a strong commitment to human rights and freedom and democracy," Bush said.
Protests flared outside the White House during the talks with several hundred people calling for the release of all political prisoners and Catholic priests jailed in Vietnam.
The two men acknowledged their differences over human rights with Triet saying they "had a direct and open exchange of views" on matters where they differ, "especially on matters relating to religion and human rights."
"And our approach is that we would increase our dialogue in order to have a better understanding of each other," the Vietnamese leader said. "We are also determined not to let those differences afflict our overall larger interests."
"I believe that the increased and good relationship between our two countries would benefit not only our two countries, but also constitute a constructive factor for safeguarding peace and stability in our region."
Earlier, Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet signed a trade and investment pact with the United States on Thursday and vowed to improve the business climate in the fast-growing Southeast Asian communist state.
Triet, on the first visit to the United States by a post-war Vietnamese head of state, said it was "passe" for Americans to associate his country with conflict when it is now wide open for business.
"We'll widely open our arms to welcome you," he said through a translator in a luncheon speech to the US Chamber of Commerce and US-Asean Business Council in Washington. While more than a decade of reforms and entry to the World Trade Organisation this year had opened Vietnam's economy, Triet said, there was still "much to be desired" in the country's business climate. "It is our determination to improve the overall business environment for businessmen and investors," he said.
He later joined Deputy US Trade Representative Karan Bhatia in signing a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement designed to open more markets and streamline business. Microsoft Corp signed pacts under which a Vietnamese bank and other state agencies committed to install genuine software on their computers to combat rampant piracy, which has been an irritant in the two countries' $9.7 billion in annual trade.