The U.S. House of Representatives' rejection of a bill establishing permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) between the United States and Vietnam "is a pity, which does not correspond to and meet interests of the two peoples," a Vietnamese foreign ministry spokesman said Tuesday.

Vietnam wants the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate to "soon approve the trade bill, helping boosting the relations between the two countries," spokesman Le Dung told reporters at the National Convention Center for most of events of the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting Week on Nov. 12-19.

"As far as we know, the House of Representatives will re-vote for the bill on Wednesday," he said, noting that the bill was not passed early Tuesday morning (Vietnamese time) before the visit of U.S. President George Bush because it did not receive at least two- thirds of the voting as needed.

However, the no passage of the bill does not affect Bush's upcoming trip slated for Nov. 17-20, because he will visit Vietnam at the invitation of Vietnamese State President Nguyen Minh Triet. The U.S. president will also attend the 14th APEC Leaders' Meeting from Nov. 18-19 in Hanoi.

The establishment of PNTR with the United States is required for Vietnam to be granted accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). In order for Vietnam to get immediate and unconditional Most-Favored Nations status from the United States, congressional approval of PNTR for the country is necessary.

The successful conclusion of WTO negotiations of Vietnam with the United States led to the introduction of legislation granting Vietnam's PNTR in U.S. Congress in June.

Source: Xinhua