Improved US-Vietnam relations noted

Bilateral trade between the U.S. and Vietnam increased to nearly $6 billion this year, according to Thanh Nien newspaper, up from $1.4 billion in 2001. Important bilateral developments noted by the paper in 2004 included the formation of the US-Vietnam Congressional Caucus, the launching of direct commercial air services between HCM City and San Francisco, the docking of a US warship at Danang port, many official visits to Vietnam from Texas and Washington state officals, and a US pledge to back Vietnam’s bid to join the World Trade Organization. (Vietnam News Briefs, Dec. 24, www.thanhnien.com Dec. 23).