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