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US President George W Bush has stressed the importance of a free
society to Vietnam's President, Nguyen Minh Triet, during landmark
talks in Washington.
Mr Bush said the two men had a "frank and candid discussion"
about democracy and human rights at the White House.
Mr Triet is making the first visit to the US by a Vietnamese
head of state since the Vietnam War ended in 1975.
Critics of his government had urged Mr Bush before the meeting
to focus on Vietnam's poor human rights record.
Members of Congress and Vietnamese exiles said restrictions
against dissent within Vietnam had been tightened recently.
During the meeting, hundreds of protesters outside the White
House called for the release of political prisoners and jailed
Catholic priests.
'Direct and open'
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 George W Bush Vietnam forges US ties
After the meeting, Mr Bush said he had raised the issue with his
Vietnamese counterpart.
"Societies are enriched when people are allowed to express
themselves freely or worship freely," he said.
"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," he added.
Mr Triet said there had been a "direct and open exchange of
views, especially on matters relating to religion and human
rights".
But in an interview with the Associated Press after the meeting,
he said that Vietnam did not need to improve its human rights
record.
"It's not a question of improving or not," Mr Triet said.
"Vietnam has its own legal framework, and those who violate the
law will be handled."
Jailed activists
Mr Triet had attempted to focus on the trade ties between his
country and the US, Vietnam's biggest export market, before the
talks.
Trade between the two countries reached $10bn (£5bn) last
year.
Some Vietnamese-Americans are angry about the visit
Accompanied by a delegation of more than 100 business leaders,
Mr Triet signed a trade and investment agreement with Washington on
Thursday.
But during a later meeting with US politicians, Mr Triet was
repeatedly asked about claims by human rights groups that his
government had repressed internal opposition.
A number of prominent pro-democracy activists, including priests
and lawyers, have been sentenced to long jail terms in the past
year.
The release of at least two activists in recent days has been
seen as a goodwill gesture.
But observers say that, with the prosecution of dissidents and
new rules banning civil servants from talking to the media, there
are few signs that closer ties with the US will produce any
tangible human rights benefits.
Source:
BBC News
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