May 12

 

President U Win Myint and First Lady Daw Cho Cho who were in Viet Nam, Hanoi laid a wreath at theWar Memorial yesterday morning and then went on to lay a wreath at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

 

Next, the delegation led by the President and the First Lady visited Vietnamese national leader Ho Chi Minh’s Residence and signed the visitors’ book.

 

Afterwards, President U Win Myint went to the Viet Nam Government’s Office and met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

 

 

At the meeting, matters relating to increasing bilateral cooperation; increasing cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, forest and fishery sector, transport, energy, communications, international tourism works and information technology sectors after bilateral ties were elevated to a comprehensive cooperative partnership in August 2017; increasing relations between the people of the two countries; increasing bilateral cooperation in regional and international organizations; holding of commemorative events in 2020 on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of Myanmar-Viet Nam diplomatic relations and Myanmar supporting Viet Nam when Viet Nam takes on the role of ASEAN Chair in 2020 were discussed.

 

The meeting was attended by Union Ministers Thura U Aung Ko, U Kyaw Tin, Deputy Minister U Sett Aung, Myanmar Ambassador to Viet Nam U Kyaw Soe Win, high ranking officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and officials.

 

Later in the afternoon, the delegation led by the President and the First Lady attended a luncheon hosted by the Vietnamese Prime Minister and wife.

 

 

At the luncheon, the Vietnamese Prime Minister and wife cordially greeted the President and the First Lady and then delivered a speech. The Viet Nam Prime Minister said:

 

Your Excellency Mr. U Win Myint, President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and Madam, Distinguished guests from Myanmar, Ladies and gentlemen, At the outset, allow me to extend to you my warmest welcome on your visit to Viet Nam and attendance at the 2019 United Nations Day of Vesak. Amid the Thingyan celebration in Myanmar, on behalf of the Government and the people of Viet Nam, may I wish Your Excellency President and the people of Myanmar a new year full of health, happiness and success.

 

Since her independence, Myanmar has gone from strength to strength, earning significant success in national development and a bigger role and higher standing in the international arena. I have full confidence that, under Your Excellency President’s leadership, the people of Myanmar will continue to successfully secure stability and economic development towards a nation of prosperity and happiness.

 

 

We are pleased with the robust growth in the Viet Nam – Myanmar ties, particularly the upgrade of our relations to the Comprehensive Partnership in 2017. Bilateral trade turnover in 2018 amounted to US$ 860 million, up by 3.8% against that of 2017, and is expected to soon exceed US$ 1 billion. Viet Nam has consistently been Myanmar’s 7th largest foreign investor with 18 projects worth a total of US$ 2.1 billion in registered capital. Direct flights connecting our major cities have enabled tourism, culture and people-to-people exchange to ever thrive. Cooperation in such other areas as security, defense, transportation and communications is also flourishing, promising greater achievements.

 

I hold a firm belief that your visit to Viet Nam and attendance at the United Nations Day of Vesak will be a great success, significantly contributing to the sound development of the Comprehensive Partnership between Viet Nam and Myanmar.

 

In the cordial atmosphere tonight, I would like to propose a toast: To the prosperity of Myanmar and the happiness of her people! To the Comprehensive Partnership between Viet Nam and Myanmar! To the good health of Your Excellency President and Madam!

 

In his return speech President U Win Myint said:

 

 

I am deeply touched by Your Excellency’s kind words of welcome and the hospitality accorded to me and my delegation since we arrived at the beautiful city of Hanoi. As such, on behalf of my delegation, I would like to express my profound thanks to you for extending the invitation to me and to pay an official working visit to Viet Nam.

 

Myanmar attaches great importance to its relations with Viet Nam. The bonds of friendship and cooperation between Myanmar and Viet Nam date back to the time of struggling for Independence. As our friendly relations were nurtured by our great leaders General Aung San and Mr. Ho Chi Minh, it is our duty to strengthen further and deepen the existing friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation.

 

Myanmar and Viet Nam belong to numerous regional and International Organizations. Myanmar and Viet Nam are working together under the framework of ASEAN, GMS, CLMV, ACMECS and the United Nations. On behalf of the Government and people of Myanmar, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Government and people of Viet Nam for their understanding and consistent support to our country in regional and International arena.

 

It has been three years that our Government has taken the office and we have achieved significant tangible progress. However, it still remains profound challenges to overcome. We strongly believe that we can overcome all obstacles through national unity and with the support and understanding of our friends from regional and international community.

 

Myanmar and Viet Nam share the same traditions and culture, customs and beliefs. The genuine friendship, close cooperation and mutual understanding between our two countries have been flourishing since we established diplomatic relations in 1975. Next year will mark a historic milestone as we are going to celebrate the 45th Anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between our two countries.

I am very pleased to have the opportunity to observe the developments of Viet Nam. I would like to congratulate Viet Nam for its economic achievements. Viet Nam is now one of Asia’s most open economies and becoming a fastest- growing emerging economy.

 

Our cooperation in trade and investment sectors are progressing as Viet Nam is now the ninth largest trading partner and the seventh largest investor in Myanmar.

 

Our government has liberalized many of the trade policies to promote trade relations with partners and also created an investor- friendly business environment for all investors. I believe that Your Excellency will encourage Vietnamese businesses to invest more in Myanmar.

 

We had a fruitful discussion just before this luncheon as we could discuss cooperation in multi-faceted areas to the mutual benefit of our two peoples. I firmly believe that bilateral relations and cooperation will be further consolidated in line with the Comprehensive Cooperative Partnership (CCP) that we established in 2017.

 

In conclusion, allow me once again to express our most sincere appreciation to Your Excellency, to the Government and people of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam for the warm welcome and excellent arrangements made for us during our stay in Viet Nam, said President U Win Myint.

 

 

With this note, I would like to invite all of you to join me in a toast: To the good health of the His Excellency Nguyen Phu Trong and Spouse. To the good health and personal well-being of the Prime Minister of Viet Nam and Spouse and also all the distinguished guests present here today. To the everlasting friendship between Myanmar and Viet Nam; To the progress and prosperity of Viet Nam and the happiness of its people.

 

After delivering the speeches, the President and Prime Minister had lunch while the Vietnamese cultural troupe presented a cultural performance.

 

After the luncheon, the President and the First Lady presented a flower bouquet to the Vietnamese cultural troupe.

 

Following the luncheon, the President received Viet Nam-Myanmar Parliament Friendship Association Chairman H.E. Mr. Nguyen Manh Tien and party at the Sheraton Hotel.

 

At the meeting, increasing visits of friendship groups established between Myanmar-Viet Nam parliaments as well as increasing friendship between the parliaments, governments and people of the two countries through these friendship groups were discussed.

 

Later in the afternoon, the President went to the office of the chair of the National Assembly of Viet Nam and met with Chairwoman H.E. Madam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

 

During the meeting, increasing friendship and cooperation between members of parliaments and parliaments of the two countries, maintaining the tradition of friendship started by past leaders, positive progress achieved from cooperation during recent years, and increasing cooperation and friendship between the two peoples in the future through the parliaments of the two countries were cordially discussed.

 

The meeting was attended by Union Ministers Thura U Aung Ko, U Kyaw Tin, Deputy Minister U Sett Aung, Myanmar Ambassador to Viet Nam U Kyaw Soe Win, high ranking officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and officials.

 

Later in the evening, the President and the First Lady attended a dinner together with heads of state who were attending the 2019 UN Vesak Day celebrations. The dinner held at the National Convention Centre was hosted by the Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Viet Nam.

 

MNA (Translated by Zaw Min)