At the invitation of His Excellency Nguyen Phu Trong, President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and Spouse, President U Win Myint and Spouse Daw Cho Cho visited Viet Nam from 10 to 14 May 2019 to attend the 16th United Nations Day of Vesak and to pay an official working visit.
In the evening of 10 May 2019, Myanmar delegation led by President and Spouse visited Myanmar Embassy in Hanoi and met with Ambassador U Kyaw Soe Win, staff and family members of the Embassy and the Military Attache Office and attended the dinner hosted by Myanmar Ambassador and Spouse.
On 11 May, President and party laid a wreath at the Monument of National Heroes and Martyrs as well as at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. The President also visited Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House.
President U Win Myint then held bilateral talks with the Prime Minister of Viet Nam H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the Government House. During the meeting, the two leaders reviewed the close friendship and cooperation cultivated by successive leaders and peoples from both countries. They also discussed the positive achievements in bilateral cooperation in recent years, particularly after the elevation of bilateral ties to Comprehensive Cooperative Partnership level in August 2017, which has opened up a new chapter in Myanmar-Viet Nam bilateral relations.
Both sides discussed to cooperate more closely to strengthen the effectiveness of comprehensive cooperation in all areas, including trade and investment, agriculture, agro-forestry and fishery, connectivity, energy and telecommunications, tourism, Information and Communication Technology; to promote cooperation in regional and international arena; to celebrate activities commemorating the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2020; to arrange the goodwill visit of Vietnamese Prime Minister to Myanmar; to continue working closely and extending support to each other at the regional and international fora, especially under the frameworks of ASEAN, the United Nations, ASEM and Mekong sub-regional cooperation mechanisms, to coordinate more closely during Viet Nam’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2020 and to support Viet Nam’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council for the period of 2020-2021.
The two Leaders reaffirmed their commitments to enhance cooperation and find new means to reach the target of two-way trade to USD 1 billion or higher by 2020 since the trade volume between Myanmar and Viet Nam in 2017-2018 fiscal year reached USD 764 million. Viet Nam now stands as the 9th largest trading partner and 7th largest foreign investor in Myanmar.
The Vietnamese side stressed the importance attached to its relations with Myanmar and reaffirmed its continued support for Myanmar’s effort towards peace and national reconciliation. Likewise, Myanmar side congratulated Viet Nam on the achievements of reforms, especially for the progress on socio-economic lives of its people and sustainable development. The Myanmar side expressed its appreciation to Viet Nam for its consistent support to Myanmar’s peace and national reconciliation process as well as for sharing its experiences in economic development to Myanmar.
The President and Spouse attended the luncheon hosted by the Prime Minister and Spouse at the Government Guest House and the two leaders delivered speeches and exchanged toasts.
In the afternoon, the President received Viet Nam-Myanmar Parliamentarian’s Friendship Group at the hotel and exchanged views to promote the existing friendly relations between parliaments, governments and peoples of the two countries, including exchange of visits between the two Parliamentarian’s Friendship Groups established in Myanmar and Viet Nam.
The President also met with Madame Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, President of the National Assembly of Viet Nam. During the meeting, both sides reviewed the existing traditional ties of friendship established by General Aung San and President Ho Chi Minh, and exchanged views on matters pertaining to the positive achievements in bilateral cooperation in recent years and ways to enhance close cooperation between the two parliaments in the ASEAN and other inter-parliamentary organizations.
In the evening, the President and Spouse attended the dinner hosted by Madame Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, President of the National Assembly of Viet Nam, in honour of the Heads of delegations attending the 16th United Nations Day of Vesak Celebrations 2019.
In the morning of 12 May 2019, the President and party attended the opening ceremony of the 16th United Nations Day of Vesak (UNDV) Celebrations held at the Tam Chuc International Convention Center. President U Win Myint delivered an opening speech at the ceremony.
In his speech, the President gave a brief account of the background of the annual convening of the United Nations Vesak Day which was recognized by the United Nations General Assembly’s Resolution No. 54/ 115 of 1999, as it is the most Sacred Day commemorating the Birth, Enlightenment and Parinirvana of the Gauthama Buddha. He also apprised the meeting of the historical records indicating the roots of Buddhism in Myanmar since 2 A.D. as well as the Myanmar Government’s efforts for propagation of Buddha Sasana. He also stressed the vital role played by the religions in maintaining the world’s peace and stability.
The President also emphasised that at a time when the world is full of violence and miseries, it has become even more relevant and necessary to hold annual celebration of Vesak Day devoted to the Buddha’s teaching of loving kindness and living in peace and harmony. He also informed the meeting that with a view to promoting peace and national reconciliation, Myanmar has organized Advisory Forums on National Reconciliation and Peace twice in cooperation with Religions for Peace Group (RfP); the first forum was held in November 2018 and the second recently in May 2019. The President also expressed his belief that annual celebration of Buddha Day would contribute to the collective efforts in rekindling spirit of culture of peace and in promoting mutual understanding among the peoples of different cultures, religions and civilizations.
The 16th United Nations Day of Vesak Celebrations was held from May 12 to 14, 2019 hosted by National Viet Nam Buddha Sangha (NVBS), in collaboration with International Council for Day of Vesak (ICDV) supported by the Government of Viet Nam. The ceremony was also attended by H.E. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Viet Nam, Right Hon. Mr. K.P.Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of Nepal, and H.E. Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India, H.E. Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the UNESCAP and H.E. Mr. Tran Thanh Man, Chairman of Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee who also delivered their respective opening speeches. More than 1600 international delegates from 113 countries and over 20,000 Vietnamese Buddhists joined the event.
The President and spouse attended the luncheon hosted by the Organizing Committee of the 16th United Nations Day of Vesak Celebrations 2019. Then, the President and party visited Tam Chuc Pagoda and donated the 20-inch Bronze Buddha Statue to the Trustee. The President and Party also visited Bai Dinh Ancient Pagoda and Bao Thap Stupa in Ninh Binh and paid homage to Buddha Statues.
In the late evening, Myanmar delegation led by the President and Spouse attended the traditional culture show namely the Quintessence of Tokin.
On 13 May 2019, the President and Party left for Tuan Chau International Port and visited Ha Long Bay. In the evening, the President received the Chairman of Viet Nam-Myanmar Friendship Association and Vietnamese Business enterprises separately at the Hotel. They discussed the activities undertaken by the Viet Nam-Myanmar Friendship Association to deepen bilateral ties as well as the ongoing business activities and the potential investment plans of the Vietnamese business community in Myanmar.
In the morning of 14 may 2019, President and party visited Ha Dong Silk Village. The President and Party arrived back Nay Pyi Taw by special flight in the afternoon of 14 May 2019.
During the visit to Viet Nam, the President and spouse were accompanied by Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture Thura U Aung Ko, Union Minister for International Cooperation U Kyaw Tin, Deputy Minister for Planning and Finance U Set Aung, Permanent Secretary for the President Office U Khin Latt and Senior Officials.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Nay Pyi Taw
14 May 2019
