U.S., Vietnam deal on direct flights

U.S., Vietnam deal on direct flights

WASHINGTON: The United States and Vietnam signed a landmark
agreement on Thursday allowing direct passenger and cargo flights
between the two former military foes.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta and his
Vietnamese counterpart Dao Dinh Binh signed the five-year pact,
two years after the U.S.-Vietnam bilateral trade deal took
effect.

Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan, on a 10-day tour to
drum up more U.S. trade and investment in his country, was on
hand for the ceremony.

"The progress that has occurred in our relationship in the
past five years is very, very impressive," Mineta said at the
signing ceremony, noting that direct bilateral trade had more
than doubled from US$1.2 billion in 2000 to $3 billion last year.

The aviation accord allows two U.S. passenger airlines to fly
to Vietnam during the first two years. A third carrier will be
allowed in the third year. --AFP