HANOI: At the invitation of US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld, Vietnamese Defence Minister Pham Van Tra left Hanoi on Saturday for a four-day visit to the United States. This is the first time a Vietnamese defence minister has visited the United States since the end of the Viet Nam War in 1975.

During his US visit, Tra will hold talks with Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld. He is expected to meet National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. During the talks, the two sides will discuss bilateral relations and issues of mutual concerns.

Analysts say that Tra's visit has four purposes.

First, strengthening trade and political relations between the two countries. Vietnamese officials have stated that Tra's visit to the United States and a US navy ship's arrival in Viet Nam late this month have significant meanings and will consolidate ties between the two countries, especially military ones.

Tra said his visit would create opportunities for peoples of the two countries to understand each other better.

Viet Nam-US trade and political relations have developed unceasingly since their normalization in 1995. In November 2000, Bill Clinton became the first US president to visit Viet Nam since the end of the war, bringing Viet Nam-US relations to a new height. In late 2001, the Viet Nam-US Trade Bilateral Agreement took effect, boosting the two countries' trade relations. Last month, Viet Nam and the United States inked their first bilateral agreement on aviation services.

Second, there is the matter of speeding up the process of dealing with the war's consequences. Vietnamese army officials have said many times that Tra's visit to the United States is to solve issues left by the war, including Vietnamese and US soldiers missing in action (MIA), victims of Agent Orange, and mine and bomb clearance. As for the aftermath of Agent Orange, Viet Nam has consistently asked the United States to bear responsibility for Viet Nam's 2 million Agent Orange victims, including more than 1 million children.

Third, strengthening military exchanges and co-operation. In the last few years, trade and political relations have developed smoothly, but military ties have still focussed on dealing with the war's aftermath.

In March 2000, then US Secretary of Defence William Cohen paid a visit to Viet Nam, the first visit by a top US military officer since the war ended. But Viet Nam-US military exchanges were not maintained due to the impact of the Iraq War and other factors.

The US side invited Tra to go to the United States and proposed a visit to Viet Nam by US warships many times. But, the Vietnamese side did not accept the offers. On his Washington trip, Tra said it is all taking place at the right time, creating a foundation for the exchanges of military delegations between the two countries.

Finally, pursuing a win-win military strategy. Analysts note that the United States is worried that China's rapid development and improved alliance with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations would lessen its influence in Asia, especially in Southeast Asia. Therefore, improving relations with Southeast Asian countries, including Viet Nam, especially in a military domain, to reduce China's regional influence is part of the Asian strategies of the United States.

(China Daily November 11, 2003)