ATTHE invitation of Myanmar President U Win Myint and Madam, the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam H.E. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse will pay an official visit to Myanmar on December 17- 18, 2019.
During this official visit to Myanmar, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will sign the Action Program on implementation of the comprehensive cooperative partnership between Viet Nam and Myanmar for the period from 2019-2024. This significant document will give the instructions for the development of the relationship between the two countries with a longterm vision and the increasingly deep and durable cooperation.
Comprehensive cooperation
Since upgrading the relationship between Viet Nam and Myanmar into the framework of Comprehensive Cooperative Partnership, the relations between the two countries have been increasingly developing in all aspects, bringing benefits to two peoples.
While the scope of political relations has been increasingly expanded to all levels, ministries, and sectors, the mutual trust between the two ruling parties and the governments of the two countries has been increasingly strengthened.
Over the past two years, our two countries have exchanged a various number of visits of senior officials, such as: the State visit to Myanmar by Vietnam General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in August 2017, the visit to Viet Nam in March 2018 by Myanmar Vice President U Henry Van Thio, the visit by Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to Viet Nam in April 2018 and the visit by Myanmar President U Win Myint to Vietnam in May 2019, the visit to Myanmar by Vietnam Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue in June 2019 and now the official visit by the Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to Myanmar.
The two countries also exchanged visits at ministerial and vice ministerial level among the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Public Security, National Defence, Industry and Trade, Science and Technology, Information and Communications, Education, Culture, Tourism, etc.). The visits by delegations from the National Assembly Committees, the Central Commission for Mass Mobilization, the Union of Friendship Organizations, the Women's Union, the Farmers' Association have also increased. Local cooperation has reached the provincial level, military zones, universities.
The development of the Comprehensive Cooperative Partnership between the two countries is based on the existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms, the implementation of the bilateral agreements while seeking new opportunities for bilateral cooperation, in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter and the ASEAN Charter, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and the generally recognized standards of international laws, with respect to the rules of law, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country.
Beside the existing cooperation mechanisms such as the Joint Cooperation Committee, the Trade Cooperation Sub-Committee, the Political Consultation, the Security Consultation, the introduction of new cooperation mechanisms in the past two years has also made great contribution to promote the relationship between the two countries.
It was the birth of the Myanmar-Vietnam Friendship Association and the Vietnam Business Club in Myanmar, helping the cooperation between the two countries reach all classes of people. The participation of military enterprises of the two countries in the telecom joint venture project (Mytel) and annual trade fairs has also contributed to the widening and the enrichment of the bilateral cooperations.
Profound partners
With the new relationship framework, the relationship between the two countries has made great progress. Much has been achieved in the economic, trade and investment relations with the investment and trade cooperation being as the focal point in the bilateral relations over the past time. Cooperation in these sectors meets the desire of both countries in the process of economic development. Both countries need each other's markets and their products complement each other very well. Trade fairs and exhibitions, business forums and conferences have brought more opportunities for cooperation to the business communities in two countries. Twoway trade turnover increased by more than 8% by the end of September 2019. Viet Nam is ranked the 7th among 50 countries and territories investing in Myanmar, with the total capital of 2,165 billion USD with 25 projects.
At the meantime, the cooperation in security and defence sectors has been enhanced and deepned, bringing about practical and effective results. In addition to exchanging delegations at all levels, the armies of the two countries have implemented new cooperation contents such as exchanging young officers, training Vietnamese and Burmese languages, cooperating in military medical and defence industry, promoting border management, combating illegal migration and smuggling.
In addition, other fields of cooperation have been strongly promoted, such as agriculture, light industry, health care, education, science and technology, judiciary, legislative, information, communications, sports, etc.
Sustainable future
Viet Nam and Myanmar are traditional friends and reliable partners in ASEAN as well as within the frameworks of international and regional forums. During high-level meetings and talks, Myanmar always expressed the desire to learn from experiences of Viet Nam in the process of economic development and innovation. Those factors create favorable conditions for Viet Nam to continue implementing and developing the Comprehensive Cooperative Partnership with Myanmar.
Also during the visit, the Prime Minister will witness the signing ceremony of agreements between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the two countries. It is to prove that the cooperation between the two countries will be further deepened at international and multilateral forums, on international and regional issues. The deepened cooperation will help Viet Nam in fulfilling the duties of ASEAN Chair 2020 and non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the period 2020-2021.
In the past three years, the number of Vietnamese enterprises investing and doing business in Myanmar has doubled (from about 100 enterprises in 2016 to over 200 at present). The presence of Vietnamese businesses in Myanmar is diverse in form (joint venture, 100% capital, representative offices, branches, and fields (construction, industrial production, finance and banking, information technology, telecommunications, tourism, goods and services, consumer goods.
The Embassy’s assignment of an official in charge of trade and investment, an official in charge of the Vietnamese community in Myanmar and the launching of Vietnam Business Club in Myanmar on May 28th 2019) are creating more channels for Vietnamese businesses to get the information, to know more about investment procedures and to find more partners. New fields of investment and business are promoted such as automobile manufacture and assembly, production of highly added agricultural products (organic vegetables, food processed from agricultural products), high-tech application products (smart TV, smart home). The two governments are also considering the possibility of building Viet Nam industrial zone in Myanmar.
The Vietnamese business community in Myanmar brings a very specific feature to the Vietnamese community in Myanmar while accounting for 95%. There are not many Vietnamese people staying for long time in Myanmar, less than 100 people out of about 1500 people, accounting for about 5%. However, the solidarity and the bond of Vietnamese businesses in Myanmar is the glue that sticks Vietnamese people together, creating a beautiful image of Vietnamese people who are hard-working, creative, dynamic, discipline and respectful for Myanmar laws and regulations.
Viet Nam and Myanmar have many similarities in culture as well as in the history of struggling for national independence.
Vietnamese people in Myanmar understand the country and people of Myanmar, knowing that every Myanmar people strictly follow their belief and doctrine, respecting family values, paying attention to festivals. That is the reason for me to consider culture and religion at the cause to foster the bilateral relations, to upgrade partnerships and to make this partnership stronger. With that in mind, the Embassy has included the cultural activities and exchange into the programs of the annual events such as the National Day receptions, the commemoration of the establishment of the diplomatic relations and other activities.
Many Myanmar friends and partners have come to the events of the Embassy, becoming closer to the Vietnamese Community in Myanmar, thus enhancing the exchanges, cohesion, and sincere affection between the two peoples. That is the root of the relationship between two countries to be stronger and closer.
Cultural activities not only help the Myanmar people to better understand Vietnam but also help the Vietnamese people better understand Myanmar.
That explained why the tourists from one country to visit other country increase yearly. When the two peoples are engaged, Vietnamese businesses will also benefit as they will be welcomed in Myanmar markets by Myanmar customers with the trust and confidence.
Viet Nam has been, and continues to be a trusted partner with the Government and people of Myanmar. Viet Nam shares its experience of managing market economy and developing economic sectors while learning a lot from Myanmar in managing private economic sectors and foreign investment, controlling taxes, developing advanced primary education and preserving its culture and traditions. Sharing and learning from each will not only help the two countries develop, but also enhance mutual trust and confidence, making the partnership between the two countries increasingly strong and solid._GNLM
