Bangladeshi President Mohammad Abdul Hamid welcomes Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang when Quang arrives at Dhaka on March 4. (Photo: VNA) Dhaka (VNA) – Vietnam and Bangladeshhave issued a joint statement, agreeing to work out ways and means to furtherexpand and strengthen meaningful bilateral cooperation in all areas of mutualbenefit.
The document was released during the State visit to Bangladesh by Vietnam’sPresident Tran Dai Quang and his spouse.
The following is the full text of the document:
“JOINT STATEMENT
BETWEEN THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
AND THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH
On the occasion of the State visit to Bangladesh
by H.E. Mr. Tran Dai Quang,
President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
(Dhaka, 05 March 2018)
BETWEEN THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
AND THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH
On the occasion of the State visit to Bangladesh
by H.E. Mr. Tran Dai Quang,
President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
(Dhaka, 05 March 2018)
1. At the invitation of H.E. Mr. Md. AbdulHamid, President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, H. E. Mr. Tran DaiQuang, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Madam Nguyen Thi Hienpaid a State visit to the People's Republic of Bangladesh from March 4 to 6, 2018.The visit marks the 45th anniversary of Bangladesh-Vietnam diplomaticrelations.
2. President Tran Dai Quang was received by H.E.Mr. Md. Abdul Hamid, President of Bangladesh, and was accorded a ceremonialreception with guard of honour at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport,Dhaka. President Md. Abdul Hamid hosted a Banquet in honour of President TranDai Quang on March 5, 2018.
3. On March 5, 2018, President TranDai Quang paid homage at the National Monument in Savar, Dhaka in memory of themartyrs of the Bangladesh War of Liberation in 1971. Following this, thePresident paid tribute to the memory of the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh,Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, Dhaka.Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Mr. A H Mahmood Ali MP called on the Presidentof Vietnam at his place of residence.
4. During the visit, President Tran DaiQuang held meeting with President Md. Abdul Hamid. President Tran Dai Quang andPrime Minister Sheikh Hasina led their respective sides to a bilateral meeting.President Tran Dai Quang met the Honorable Speaker of the Parliament and theChairman of the Bangladesh Workers’ Party. He also addressed the Vietnam -Bangladesh Business Forum; met leaders of the Federation of Bangladesh Chamberof Commerce and Industries, the Bangladesh-Vietnam Council for Commerce andIndustries and a number of Bangladeshi leading businessmen and attended theopening ceremony of the “Vietnam Cultural Days in Bangladesh” to mark the 45thanniversary of Vietnam - Bangladesh diplomatic relations.
5. During the meetings, the two sidesinformed each other of the political, economic and social developments in theirrespective countries. President Tran Dai Quang appreciated Bangladesh formaintaining stability and steering economic and social development, improvingthe people's living standards and thus contributing to peace, stability anddevelopment in the region. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed appreciationfor Vietnam’s remarkable socio-economic development and constructive role ithas been playing in the region. She also appreciated Vietnam for successfullyhosting the APEC Year 2017.
6. During the bilateral meeting, PresidentTran Dai Quang and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina highlighted the traditionalfriendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Bangladesh over the forty fiveyears of diplomatic relations. They agreed to work out ways and means tofurther expand and strengthen meaningful bilateral cooperation in all areas ofmutual benefit.
7. The two sides agreed to strengthen theclose ties and political understanding between the two countries throughexchange of high-level visits and interactions as well as the exchange ofdelegations at various levels and through increased people-to-people contacts.In this spirit, President Tran Dai Quang welcomed a visit by Bangladeshileadership to Vietnam in the near future.
8. The two sides agreed to hold the 2ndPolitical Consultation between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs in Hanoiin 2018 in order to review areas for future cooperation.
9. The two sides agreed to strengthencooperation in security and defense areas through the exchange of goodwillvisits and delegations and participation in training in each other’s country.They also agreed to continue cooperation in countering transnational crimes andterrorism. Bangladesh expressed willingness to share its experience in theUnited Nations Peacekeeping Operations.
10. The two sides expressed satisfaction at thegrowing volume of bilateral trade which in 2017 amounted to nearly US$ 900million, an increase of around 50 % against that of 2016. The two sides alsoagreed to hold the 2nd meeting of the Joint Committee on Trade in 2018 to seekavenues to enhance bilateral trade.
11. To promote bilateral investment, thetwo sides stressed on the need to effectively implement the Agreement on thePromotion and Protection of Investment and agreed to create the best conditionsfor entrepreneurs and business communities of the two countries to explorebusiness and investment opportunities in both countries.
12. Both sides agreed to strengthencooperation and sharing of experience and know-how in developing sustainableagriculture and aquaculture. The two sides welcomed the signing of the MOU onCooperation in the field of Fisheries and Livestock and MOU of machinerymanufacturing cooperation.
13. Both sides agreed to promotecooperation in education and training. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina appreciatedVietnam’s FPT University for offering 100 scholarships to Bangladeshi studentsfor the year 2017-2018. Both sides welcomed signing of the Cultural ExchangeProgram between the Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Bangladesh and the Ministryof Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam.
14. Both sides stressed on the need forimplementation of the Air Service Agreement to establish direct airconnectivity between the two countries to foster trade, tourism, andpeople-to-people contact.
15. The two sides appreciated their cooperationand close coordination at regional and international forums, especially withinthe framework of the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, South-SouthCooperation, and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). Both sides expressed theirappreciation for mutual support at international forums. Vietnam soughtBangladesh’s support in favour of its candidature for a non-permanentmembership of the United Nations Security Council for the period of 2020-2021.Bangladesh agreed to give due consideration to the request, taking into accountthe tradition of mutual support between the two countries in multilateral fora.
16. The two sides expressed keen interest towork together and coordinate joint efforts in issues of mutual interest such assustainable development, disaster and climate change response, water security,and food security.
17. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterated hergovernment’s keen interests to intensify political, trade, and economicrelations with the ASEAN countries, sought Vietnam’s support in favour ofBangladesh’s desire to become Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN. She alsorequested Vietnam to support Bangladesh to join the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation(MGC). President Tran Dai Quang agreed to give due consideration to therequests on the basis of consulting with ASEAN and MGC member countries.
18. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought Vietnam’ssupport for a peaceful solution for affected people from the Rakhine State whotook shelter in Bangladesh. President Tran Dai Quang expressed his support fora viable and long-term solution to the problem for the sake of peace, stabilityand development in the region. In this connection, he welcomed recentagreements between Bangladesh and Myanmar on this issue.
19. The two sides stressed the importanceof maintaining peace, stability, and the rule based order for the seasand oceans, including security, safety, and freedoms of navigation andover-flight, in accordance with international law. They emphasized on peacefulsettlement of all international disputes, including territorial and maritimedisputes, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 Conventionon the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Both sides agreed to continue their support forthe observations of the Declaration on the conduct of parties in the SouthChina Sea (DOC) and look forward to the conclusion of a substantive Code ofConduct (COC).
20. The two sides expressed satisfactionat the honest and candid discussion in the spirit of mutual understanding, aswell as at the important outcomes realized during the visit. President Tran DaiQuang and Madame appreciated the warm hospitality and courtesies extended tothem and to the accompanying delegation by the Government and the people of Bangladeshduring the visit. President Dai Quang cordially invited both the President, andthe Prime Minister of Bangladesh to visit Vietnam at a mutually convenienttime; date of which to be decided through the diplomatic channel.”-VNA
VNA
