Obama calls for greater freedoms in Vietnam

US President Barack Obama on Tuesday pressed Vietnam to allow greater freedoms for its citizens, arguing that better human rights would improve the country's economy, stability and regional power.

    On his second day in Vietnam, Obama met with activists and entrepreneurs, part of a push for closer ties with the fast-growing, strategically crucial country that included the lifting of one of the last vestiges of Vietnam War-era antagonism: a five-decades-old arms sale embargo.

    Nations are more successful when people can freely express their thoughts, assemble without harassment and access the internet and social media, Obama said in a speech at the National Convention Center. "Upholding these rights is not a threat to stability but actually reinforces stability and is the foundation of progress," Obama said. "Vietnam will do it differently than the United States ... But there are these basic principles that I think we all have to try to work on and improve". 

    Obama earlier spoke with six activists, including advocates for the disabled, a pastor and advocates for freedom of speech, press and the Internet, but he said that several others were prevented from coming. "Vietnam has made remarkable strides in many ways," Obama said, but "there are still areas of significant concern". 

    Meanwhile, Obama called Tuesday for territorial disputes in the South China Sea to be "resolved peacefully" as Vietnam baulks at Chinese actions in the bitterly contested waters. "Big nations should not bully smaller ones, disputes should be resolved peacefully," he told an audience in Hanoi, referring to the disputed maritime region. 

    His remarks won loud applause from more than 2,000 delegates including top Vietnamese leaders.

Source: QNA