Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh receives Myanmar border minister

Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh hosted a reception in Hanoi on March 13 for Myanmar Minister of Border Affairs Ye Aung, who is on a working visit to Vietnam to enhance cooperation in ethnic affairs.

Deputy PM Binh noted the two countries’ similarities in culture, religion, history and geo-political position in Southeast Asia and their wish to promote solidarity and unanimity in the region. The foundation of their diplomatic ties, formed by late President Ho Chi Minh and leader Aung San on the basis of those similarities, has created prerequisites for the comprehensive cooperative partnership at present.

Vietnam always treasures the traditional friendship with Myanmar and wants to enhance bilateral cooperation in all aspects, he said.

He highly valued the socio-economic attainments that the Myanmar Government has gained, voicing his belief that the country’s national reconciliation and harmonisation will be successful in the time ahead.

The policy system on national unity, religion and caring for ethnic groups of Vietnam has been increasingly perfected and proved effective, thereby promoting development and social progress so as to build a socialist Vietnam with wealthy people, strong country, and democratic, equal and civilized society, he noted.

The host official applauded the rapid and strong progress in the two countries’ relations, particularly the elevation of their ties to a comprehensive cooperative partnership during a State visit to Myanmar by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong in August 2017.

Bilateral trade reached 828.3 million USD in 2017, up 51 percent from 2016. Vietnam has become the 7th biggest foreign investor in Myanmar with 70 projects worth nearly 2 billion USD, he said, adding that these are important pre-conditions for expanding cooperation in the years to come.

For his part, Minister Ye Aung said Vietnam and Myanmar boast time-honoured relations which have been upgraded over time. They have partnered with each other in various fields such as economy, culture, defence and security.

He informed his host about the outcomes of his delegation’s working visit to Vietnam, which aims to bolster affiliation in ethnic work. He added they learned much experience in the field from Vietnam.

He also expressed his hope that the cooperation between the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs of the Vietnamese Government and the Myanmar Ministry of Border Affairs, as well as the two countries’ diplomatic connections will continue to flourish in the future.-VNA