Myanmar-Vietnam friendship associations asked to boost coordination

Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung received Chairman of the Myanmar – Vietnam Friendship Association U Tint Swai in Hanoi on December 20, asking the two countries’ friendship organisations to step up coordination and people-to-people exchange.

Valuing Myanmar’s achievements, the Deputy PM affirmed that Vietnam always treasures the countries’ traditional friendship and wants to enhance their cooperation in all aspects.

He noted that Vietnam and Myanmar have recorded rapid and strong development in their relations, especially the elevation of bilateral ties to a comprehensive cooperative partnership during a State visit to Myanmar by Vietnam’s Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in August 2017.

Notably, economic, trade and investment connection has become one of the important cooperation pillars, he said, elaborating that their trade exceeded 548 million USD in 2016 and is expected to reach over 800 million USD in 2017. With more than 70 projects worth nearly 1.5 billion USD, Vietnam has become the seventh biggest foreign investor in Myanmar.

Those outcomes are important prerequisites to bolster cooperation in the time ahead, he said.

[Vietnam–Myanmar friendship associations seal cooperative pact]

The Deputy PM asked both sides to maintain high-ranking delegation exchange, soon sign cooperation agreements, especially on agro-forestry-fishery and transport, and continue to create optimal conditions for Vietnamese firms to expand investment and business in Myanmar.

He told the two countries’ friendship associations to help boost cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and Yangon and work to set up cooperative ties between Hanoi and Myanmar localities in the near future.

For his part, U Tint Swai said his association has carried out concrete and active activities to strengthen cooperation between the two Governments and peoples.

He added during their working visit, the Myanmar delegation signed many important agreements with Vietnamese agencies so as to foster ties between the two countries’ friendship associations and promote partnerships in all fields, particularly economy, trade and investment.

The Myanmar – Vietnam Friendship Association will make efforts to connect the two sides’ businesses in order to capitalise on each other’s potential and advantages. It will also increase people-to-people exchanges and educate young people on the Myanmar – Vietnam traditional relationship.-VNA