Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Minh Khoi made the statement in an interview which was granted to the media regarding the outcomes of the PM’s recently concluded Myanmar trip.
The official said that during their meetings with the Vietnamese leader, Myanmar’s senior leaders affirmed Myanmar always sees Vietnam as an important and reliable partner, hoping that the two countries will further strengthen bilateral ties and work closely together to overcome common challenges.
The two sides agreed to maintain the exchange of high-level visits and meetings, while boosting people-to-people exchange and cooperation between their localities. On the occasion of the visit, the two sides signed and handed over four cooperation documents, including an action programme for 2019-2024, a crucial document which aims to realise the Vietnam-Myanmar comprehensive cooperation partnership in the next five years.
The economy, trade, investment and finance were the particular fields that Vietnam promoted during PM Phuc’s visit, Khoi said, noting that the two sides agreed to further simplify procedures for Vietnam’s exports; to narrow the list of Vietnam’s import items requiring permits; and to facilitate Vietnamese firms’ access to further investment and business opportunities in Myanmar.
The two sides also agreed to accelerate the licensing progress and research more incentives for Vietnamese investors, in addition to considering and properly satisfying the proposals from Vietnamese businesses in terms of telecoms, mining, infrastructure construction, housing, urban technical infrastructure, and transportation. On the occasion, the two sides discussed the possibility of establishing a Vietnamese industrial park in Myanmar to encourage more Vietnamese investment into Myanmar, the deputy FM said.
Regarding defence-security, Vietnam and Myanmar reached a consensus on expanding cooperation some potential areas, including navy, military medicine, defense industry, logistics and border management; strengthening collaboration in preventing and combating transnational crimes, including drug trafficking; and on promptly negotiating and signing agreements on the extradition and transfer of sentenced persons.
Concerning regional and international issues, Myanmar congratulated Vietnam on its winning of a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021 with a near unanimous vote. The two sides affirmed their close cooperation and mutual support at international forums, especially as Vietnam assumes the role of ASEAN Chair 2020, aiming to maintain solidairity, unity and the central role of ASEAN. As for the East Sea issue, the two sides affirmed their support for ASEAN’s common stance, stressing the need to peacefully settle disputes on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and to ensure security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea.
During the visit, PM Phuc toured some major investment establishments of Vietnam in Yangon, including telecom operator Mytel, Thaco Group, and the Yangon branch of the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV). He also attended the opening ceremony of the first representative office of HDBank in Myanmar. According to the deputy FM, this helped to encourage Vietnamese companies to continue developing their business activities and creating additional jobs, contributing to further tightenting relations between Vietnam and Myanmar, for the benefit of the two countries’ peoples.
When asked about the orientations for the development of Vietnam-Myanmar ties in the near future, Khoi said that in 2020 the two sides will celebrate the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic ties (May 28, 1975-2020). PM Phuc’s visit took place right ahead of Vietnam’s assumption of the ASEAN Chairmanship 2020, thus becoming more significant. It not only works to boost relations between the two countries, but also helps to strengthen sharing and mutual support in the process of their participation in regional cooperation, especially in consolidating their cooperation in ASEAN.
In order to effectively implement the outcomes of the visit, the exchange of high-level delegations and meetings should be actively facilitated to further enhance the good friendship and political trust between Vietnam and Myanmar. Moreover, bilateral mechanisms must be regularly and effectively maintained, particularly the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation and the Joint Sub-committee on trade, Khoi said.
