Deepening Vietnam – Bangladesh long-standing friendship, multi-faceted cooperation

President Tran Dai Quang’s visit to the People's Republic of Bangladesh from March 4-6, at the invitation of his Bangladeshi counterpart Mohammad Abdul Hamid, is an important political event in the relationship between the two countries, aiming to further deepen their traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation.

President Tran Dai Quang and his spouse (Credit: VNA)
President Tran Dai Quang and his spouse (Credit: VNA)

The visit comes at a time when Vietnam and Bangladesh are celebrating the 45th anniversary since the foundation of the two countries’ diplomatic ties (February 11, 1973-201).

Bangladesh has a stable political climate at present. The Bangladeshi Government has implemented a foreign policy of peace, non-alignment, friendship and cooperation with all countries, as well as actively participating in the United Nations peacekeeping operations, and contributing to the world’s peace and security. In recent years, Bangladesh has positively improved its position within multilateral forums, especially through successfully hosting the General Debate of the 136th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in April 2017, and contributing its ideas at multilateral conferences such as Arab-Islamic-American Summit and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In addition, the country has also actively promoted its relations with ASEAN countries.

Since the inception of their diplomatic ties in 1973, the traditional friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Bangladesh have been continuously nurtured and strengthened by both countries’ generations of leaders and people. The fine relationship has been marked by high-ranking visits, most recently by NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong to attend IPU-136 in April 2017 and the visit to Vietnam made by the Speaker of the Parliament of Bangladesh, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, in July 2017. Many delegations of officials from Bangladesh have been sent to Vietnam to enhance the cooperation and share experience in administrative management, agriculture and rural development, tourism and climate change.

It is pleasing to witness the development of the economic cooperation between Vietnam and Bangladesh, with two-way trade of US$900 million in 2017. The two sides are striving to increase their bilateral trade turnover to US$1 billion in the coming years. Vietnam exports many goods to Bangladesh, such as cement, rice, fibers, textile and garments, machinery and equipment. By the end of December 2017, Bangladesh had invested in four projects in Vietnam, with a total registered capital of US$615,000. Agricultural cooperation between the two countries has been maintained and accelerated. The two sides have actively conducted exchanges of delegations at all levels in order to share experience on policies related to economic development, resettlement, migration and aquaculture.

Security and defence cooperation between Vietnam and Bangladesh has also been fostered. The two sides have held several activities to discuss their experience on participation in UN peacekeeping operations and transnational crime prevention and control. Education and training cooperation has seen fine achievements. The National Academy of Public Administration of Vietnam has coordinated with the Ministry of Public Administration and Public Administration Training Centre of Bangladesh to successfully hold 16 training courses on public administration for nearly 500 Bangladeshi management officials and leaders.

Bangladesh always attaches great importance to the relationship and position of Vietnam, considering the country as a reliable partner within the international arena. The two countries have exchanged and cooperated closely at international forums, particularly in the UN.

President Tran Dai Quang’s state visit to Bangladesh affirms the determination of the leaders and people of both countries to further deepen the Vietnam – Bangladesh relationship and to strengthen the political trust between the two countries’ leaders. The visit offers a good occasion for the two sides to discuss the measures required to accelerate their bilateral cooperation across various fields in a more substantive and effective manner, as well as to discuss regional and international issues of mutual concern, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development all around the world.