Myanmar continually looks to foster cooperation with Vietnam, especially within the ASEAN framework, affirmed Myanmar leaders.

Meeting Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan in the capital city of Naypyidaw on March 11 immediately after the welcome ceremony, Myanmar President Thein Sein noted that the visit would intensify bilateral coordination in celebration of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year.

Doan, in return, clarified that Vietnam expects a stable and long-term friendship and all-around engagement with Myanmar.

During talks with her counterpart, Nyan Tun, on the same day, the Vietnamese Vice President asked for the Myanmar government’s support for Vietnamese firms active in the 12 priority fields mentioned in the Vietnam-Myanmar joint statement signed in April 2010, as well as accelerating the licensing of Vietnamese projects in Myanmar.

After doubling the value of trade after two years to reach 475 million USD in 2014, the two sides discussed initiatives to enhance joint efforts, including facilitating high-level visits, realising bilateral cooperation mechanisms, boosting economic-trade-investment activities to bring two-way trade value to over 500 million USD this year, and expanding collaboration in agro-forestry-fisheries, finance-banking, telecommunications, transport, oil and gas, and tourism, among others.

The host agreed to consider allowing the Bank for the Investment and Development of Vietnam to open a branch in Myanmar, the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group to expand oil and gas exploration, and the military-run telecom provider Viettel to set up a joint venture with Yantanarporn Teleport of Myanmar.

The officials also committed to establishing a Myanmar-Vietnam Friendship Association.

The Myanmar side called for coordination across rubber and food production and export, including rice, seafood, vegetables and fruits.

The host also took the occasion to call for Vietnamese investment in three newly-established exclusive economic zones.

The two sides pledged to work closely at regional and global forums, especially the sub-regional mechanisms like the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation, the Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Ministerial Summit, and the East-West Economic Corridor.

Simultaneously, the two countries vowed to partner with other ASEAN members to ensure solidarity, uphold the ASEAN’s central role in the evolving regional structure, maintain peace and solidarity in the East Sea, and materialise the ASEAN Community in late 2015.

VNA