WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- President George W. Bush lauded economic ties between the U.S. and Vietnam, but said Hanoi needs to strengthen human rights for relations to continue to improve.
After a meeting Friday with Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet, Bush said, "We want to have good relations with Vietnam, and we've got good economic relations."
Triet is the first Vietnamese president to visit the U.S. since the Vietnam war ended in 1975.
"I also made it very clear that in order for relations to grow deeper that it's important for our friends to have a strong commitment to human rights and freedom and democracy," Bush added.
The U.S. and Vietnam signed a new trade and investment pact Thursday, a deal that lays out basic rules for trade and investment between the two countries and may be an early step toward a free trade agreement.
Two-way trade between the U.S. and Vietnam surged by 23% last year to $9.7 billion. Vietnam became the World Trade Organization's 150th member in January.
But the White House has expressed concern over a clampdown on democratic activity inside Vietnam, with a number of dissidents and political activists recently arrested.
"I explained my strong belief that societies are enriched when people are allowed to express themselves freely or worship freely," Bush said Friday.
Neither Bush nor Triet took questions after their meeting.
Triet said he and Bush are determined not to let differences over human rights and religion affect broader interests.
"Mr. President and I also had a direct and open exchange of views on a matter that we remain different, especially on matters related to religion and human rights," Triet said. "And our approach is that we would increase our dialogue in order to have a better understanding of each other."
The two men last met in November, when Bush traveled to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City for the annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
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