VN, Myanmar beef up people-to-people exchanges

The Vietnamese Government leader made the proposal on December 20 in Ha Noi while hosting a reception for Chairman of the Myanmar-Viet Nam Friendship Association U Tint Swai. 

Deputy PM Dung hailed the achievements the Myanmar’s Government has attained over the past time. He hoped that Myanmar would succeed in the national reconciliation process, thus raising regional and international status. 

Viet Nam always treasures the traditional and friendly ties between the two countries and the relations between Great President Ho Chi Minh and Myanmar leader Aung San. The two countries shared numerous similarities in culture and national independence, he said. 

Deputy PM stressed that the Vietnamese Government always hopes to promote the bilateral ties. 

Over the past time, the bilateral ties made robust and strong development especially the lifting of comprehensive cooperative partnership during the official visit of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to Myanmar in August 2017. Especially, economics, trade and investment have become one of key pillars in the bilateral ties with positive outcomes.

The two-way trade turnover fetched over US$ 548 million in 2016 and was forecast to reach US$ 800 million in 2017, exceeding the preset goal of US$ 500 million. Viet Nam emerged as the seventh largest investor in Myanmar with over 70 FDI projects, worth nearly US$ 1.5 billion. 

Deputy PM Dung suggested the two countries maintain reciprocal exchanges of delegations at high levels; early sign cooperative deals especially in the agro-forestry-fishery sector and transport. 

He recommended Myanmar continue to facilitate Vietnamese investors to expand investment, production, and business; beef up people-to-people exchanges; local linkages between HCMC and Yangon City.

In return, Mr. U Tint Swai expressed his pleasure to visit Viet Nam for the first time. The Association was founded in 2016, right before the official tour of Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to Myanmar. So far, the body has taken specific and positive actions to cement and deepen the relations between the two Governments and peoples. 

Chairman U Tint Swai revealed that the delegations signed a series of documents and deals with Vietnamese agencies with a view to strengthening relations between the two associations and promoting cooperative ties in all fields especially in economics, trade, and investment. 

The guest leader affirmed that in the coming time the Association would spare no effort to strengthen business connectivity to make full use of potentials and advantages; accelerate people-to-people exchanges; educate the youth about the traditional ties./.

By Khanh Phuong