PANO – Myanmar President Htin Kyaw and his spouse has started a state-level visit to Vietnam from October 26 to 28, at the invitation of Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang.

This is the first time President Htin Kyaw has visited Vietnam. The visit is considered significant for the traditional friendly relations between Vietnam and Myanmar as the two countries have just celebrated the 40th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations. What is more, it is expected to help bolster bilateral relations, create a new impetus for economic cooperation, trade, investment and exchange between businesses of the two sides, and preserve a mechanism for meetings and exchanges between leaders of the two countries.

In recent time, Myanmar has seen new positive developments. In politics, the country successfully held a general election for its new parliament on November 8, 2015; in other words, it had finished the process of building a democratic republic starting from 2003.

The reception for Myanmar President Htin Kyaw. Photo: vov.vn

Another milestone in the national history of Myanmar was October 15, 2015 when the Myanmar Government and eight armed organizations of ethnic minorities reached a nationwide ceasefire, opening door to a sustainable political agreement to end the long-lasting conflict in the country, starting form 1946.

The economy of Myanmar recently saw rapid growth thanks to its open-door and reform policies. Its GDP has continuously reached 8% per year for three consecutive years.

Vietnam and Myanmar started connections a long time ago. In 1947 when Vietnam was waging a resistance war against French colonialists, it had an information agency in Myanmar, which was upgraded to the Representative Office of the Democratic People’s Republic of Vietnam in 1948.

In 1954, Myanmar Prime Minister U Nu visited Vietnam and Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh visited Myanmar in 1958.

During the time when the Vietnamese people fought enemies for national independence and reunification, governments, organizations and people of Myanmar voiced support for the Vietnamese national liberation wars. When Vietnam won the war against American invaders and reunited the country, the two countries upgraded their diplomatic relations from the general consulate level to the embassy on May 28, 1975.

Over the past years, Vietnam and Myanmar have continuously strengthened traditional friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation. The two sides have close political views and support each other in regional and international forums.

Economic and trade cooperation between the two countries saw good growth in recent years. Vietnam is now the 10th largest trade partner of Myanmar. In 2015, two-way trade reached US$ 434 million and as of July 2016, it was US$ 299 million. The Association of Vietnamese Investors in Myanmar (AVIM) was founded and is now operating effectively in the country. Large Vietnamese-invested projects include the Hoang Anh Gia Lai Complex in Yangon, direct flight route between Hanoi and Yangon run by Vietnam Airlines, and oil and gas exploitation cooperation.

In March this year, Myanmar licensed the Bank of Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) to set up a branch in the country.

Additionally, the two sides hold trade fairs in the other country to introduce their products in the other market and create trade and investment opportunities for businesses.

Fortunately, the two governments are paying attention to boosting traditional friendship and long-term relations between the two countries and peoples. The Vietnamese Government and people are trying to deepen bilateral relations and expand cooperation in all areas, particularly trade, economics and investment, on the basis of friendship and mutual benefits.

The Vietnamese Government and people strongly believe that the state-level visit of Myanmar President Htin Kyaw will be successful, contributing to strengthening traditional friendship, cooperation and trust between the two countries and peoples for peace and prosperity of both countries and peace, stability and development in the region.

Written by Editorial Board

Translated by Thu Nguyen