Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang hosted a reception for Bangladeshi Minister of Foreign Affairs Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali right after his arrival in the capital city of Dhaka on March 4 afternoon for a three-day State visit to the South Asian country.

President Tran Dai Quang (R) receives Bangladeshi Minister of Foreign Affairs Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali 

Minister Mahmood Ali recalled the sentiments the Bangladeshi people have always extended to their Vietnamese counterparts, and believed that President Quang’s visit will usher in a new chapter in bilateral relations.

President Quang thanked the Bangladeshi State for its solemn welcome for the Vietnamese delegation and congratulated Bangladesh on its recent achievements.

He suggested the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries to urge other ministries and sectors to effectively carry out high-level agreements and deploy practical activities celebrating the 45th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties, especially people-to-people exchanges and business networking, in order to deepen the bilateral relationship.

Later on the same day, President Quang, his spouse and entourage visited the Vietnamese embassy’s staff and representatives of overseas Vietnamese who are living, working and studying in Bangladesh.

After hearing Ambassador Tran Van Khoa’s report on the situation and activities of the embassy and Vietnamese community, President Quang briefed the participants on the home country’s socio-economic situation and achievements in foreign affairs, specially the successful hosting of the APEC Year 2017.

The President said Vietnam-Bangladesh relations are seeing positive development steps and fruitful cooperation in many fields. This year the two nations are celebrating the 45th establishment anniversary of diplomatic ties, marking an important period in the development of bilateral relations, he noted.

According to the leader, Bangladesh is a potential market with a population of more than 160 million. Last year, more than 30 business delegations of Vietnam came to explore the Bangladeshi market.

President Quang asked the embassy to develop bilateral relations more practically by increasing the exchange of delegations at all levels as well as trade and investment promotion activities, striving to reach the target of 2 billion USD in two-way trade in 2020 and further stepping up cooperation in agriculture, education-training, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

The President also proposed overseas Vietnamese in Bangladesh to unite together and contribute more to the home country and the bilateral relationship.

The Vietnamese community in Bangladesh comprises some 100 people, mostly Vietnamese women who got married with local and foreign men, along with officials and engineers working for information technology projects and overseas students.

VNA