Clinton seeks human rights progress in Vietnam, vows more cooperation on Agent Orange impact

Clinton seeks human rights progress in Vietnam

HANOI, Vietnam — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday urged Vietnam to improve its human rights record and pledged greater cooperation in dealing with the lingering impact of Agent Orange from the Vietnam War.

In Hanoi for events marking the 15th anniversary of normalized U.S.-Vietnam relations, Clinton said, “Vietnam, with its extraordinary, dynamic population, is on the path to becoming a great nation with an unlimited potential.”

However, she said, “That is among the reasons we expressed concern about arrest and conviction of people for peaceful dissent, attacks on religious groups and curbs on Internet freedom.”

Clinton also promised to continue working with Vietnam on the consequences of Agent Orange.

Between 1962 and 1971, the U.S. military sprayed roughly 11 million gallons of Agent Orange across large swaths of southern Vietnam. Dioxin, a toxic chemical used in the herbicide, has been linked to cancers, birth defects and other ailments.

Vietnam says as many as 4 million of its citizens were exposed to the herbicide and as many as 3 million have suffered illnesses caused by it.

“We have been working with Vietnam for about nine years to try to remedy the effects of Agent Orange,” Clinton said. She promised to “increase our cooperation and make even greater progress together.”

Clinton arrived in Hanoi on Thursday for two days of talks that will also include a regional security forum with senior officials from around Southeast Asia. Those discussions are expected to focus largely on the threat posed by North Korea.

Clinton came to Hanoi from Seoul, where she announced new U.S. sanctions against North Korea and, with Defense Secretary Robert Gates, offered strong support for South Korea.