With all this talk about normalizing relations with Cuba, we should look at our relations with Vietnam, with whom we were at war for several years. We normalized relations with Vietnam in the 1990s and it has definitely been a good move for Vietnam.
This year so far they have exported $25.1 billion in goods to the U.S, we have exported about $5 billion to them. Vietnam is among the world’s leading exporters of rice, coffee and fish products. In addition to garments, textiles and footwear, its workers make electronics for Intel, Samsung and Nokia. In 2006 the country was admitted into the World Trade Organization. 17,000 Vietnamese students are enrolled in our colleges and high schools.
As for human rights in Vietnam, that has also improved but still faces challenges. We have met with them a number of times over the years and it appears that there is more freedom for journalists, bloggers and the religious community.
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