Vietnam and Myanmar should think further and take strategic actions to enhance their partnership in the context of globalisation and increasing geo-political competitiveness, said delegates to a workshop on bilateral relations in Hanoi on December 8.

It will be useful for Vietnam and Myanmar to speed up trade and tourism promotion activities. Photo: vneconomy.vn

Head of Vietnam’s Institute for Southeast Asian Studies Nguyen Duy Dung said that Vietnam and Myanmar hold a time-honoured and fine relationship with effective collaboration in all fields ranging from politics, economics to people-to-people exchange.

Professor Ann Chit Tha from the Myanmar Institute for Strategic and International Studies suggested the two sides coordinate more closely in education, scientific research and human resources with priority given to sustainable development on society, natural resources and environment.

It will be useful for both countries to speed up trade and tourism promotion activities, organise regular business visits and exchanges and intensify maritime links via main seaports, she added.

Meanwhile, the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, Tran Khanh proposed the two governments work for a new investment protection and promotion agreement as early as possible to replace the one signed in 2000.

He stressed the need for the early signing of a bilateral trade and investment cooperation agreement covering 12 priority fields as agreed by their Governments in 2010, as well as set up a joint-venture bank to facilitate foreign currency exchange.

The two countries should also extend the visa exemption duration for their ordinary passport holders from nine days at present to one month in line with ASEAN regulations, participants said, suggesting that the two sides also consider upgrading their relation to strategic partnership level and increase coordination within the framework of ASEAN and the Mekong Sub-region.

Source: VNA