President affirms support for Myanmar’s peace process

Hanoi (VNA) – President Tran Dai Quang affirmed Vietnam’s support for the peace and national reconciliation process of Myanmar during a reception for Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in Hanoi on September 13.

Welcoming the Myanmar leader to Vietnam to attend the 2018 World Economic Forum on ASEAN (WEF ASEAN 2018), the President congratulated Myanmar on the successful organisation of the 21st century Panglong Peace Conference for the third time.

Vietnam treasures the traditional friendship and close cooperation with Myanmar, which was fostered by President Ho Chi Minh, leader Aung San and many generations of leaders and people of the two countries, President Quang said, adding that the two countries share many similarities in culture, religion and the tradition of fighting for national independence.  

He affirmed that Vietnam wants to promote multi-faceted cooperation with Myanmar through all channels – Party, National Assembly, State, Government and people.

The Vietnamese President expressed pleasure at the development of the comprehensive cooperative partnership between Vietnam and Myanmar, especially following the State-level visit to Myanmar by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong in August 2017, and the official visit to Vietnam by State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in April 2018.

Bilateral trade almost reached 830 million USD in 2017, up 51 percent from 2016. Vietnam has become the 9th largest trade partner of Myanmar and the 7th largest foreign investor in the country.

To boost bilateral ties, President Quang suggested maintaining the exchange of delegations at all levels and the operation of cooperative mechanisms, early signing a plan of actions to realise the bilateral comprehensive cooperative partnership for 2018-2023, and working to raise bilateral trade to 1 billion USD as soon as possible.

The two sides should continue to hold negotiations on and accelerate the signing of cooperative agreements in agriculture-fisheries, transport, justice and crime prevention and control, he said, urging the early establishment of a defence policy dialogue mechanism at deputy ministerial and deputy chief of staff levels.

Quang also advocated more people-to-people exchange, boosting friendly and cooperative ties between Ho Chi Minh City and Yangon, and working towards establishment of partnership between Hanoi and localities of Myanmar.  

Citing the initial success of Mytel, a joint venture between Vietnam’s Viettel group and Myanmar partners which launched telecoms services in Myanmar in June this year, President Quang asked the State Counsellor and the Government of Myanmar to continue creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese firms to invest and do business in Myanmar, thus contributing to Myanmar’s socio-economic development and the partnership between the two countries.

The President also valued the sound collaboration between the two countries at international and regional forums, especially the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement and ASEAN. He proposed that the two countries continue with close coordination in the framework of ASEAN and sub-region cooperative mechanisms such as the Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam (CLMV), East-West Economic Corridor, Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) and Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS). He also expressed the wish that Myanmar soon join the Mekong River Commission (MRC).

State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi appreciated the friendship and cooperation between Myanmar and Vietnam, and thanked Vietnam for its support of Myanmar’s peace and national reconciliation process.

She affirmed that Myanmar hopes to increase economic cooperation with Vietnam along with ties in education, tourism, cultural and youth exchange.

Mentioning the WEF ASEAN 2018, Aung San Suu Kyi said the event provided a good opportunity for firms from Myanmar and Vietnam to connect with each other as well as with their peers in ASEAN and the world. The event also helped increased the linkage between governments and the business circle, she said.-VNA