Sang turns visits into triumphs

During his visit to Brunei during November 27-29, Sang held talks with King Haji Hassanal Bolkiah to discuss ways to further tighten the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

In a joint statement, the two leaders agreed to promote bilateral cooperation in the areas of agriculture-aquaculture, petroleum, labour, tourism and  education. They also agreed to organise the first meeting of the Joint Committee for Bilateral Cooperation to devise solutions to enhance cooperation in economics, trade and investment.

Vietnam-Brunei two-way trade turnover stood at $204 million last year and $500 million in this year’s first nine months. Brunei is Vietnam’s 12th biggest foreign investor, with 129 licensed projects having total registered capital of $4.9 billion. The biggest project is a real estate development of New City Company worth $4.3 billion in south central Phu Yen province which has undergone site clearance since 2008.

Sang reiterated that Vietnam would actively coordinate with Brunei to fulfill the latter’s role as ASEAN Chair in 2013. Meanwhile, Bolkiah said Brunei supported Vietnam to host the APEC Summit in 2017.

On this occasion, the State Bank of Vietnam and Brunei Monetary Authority inked a memorandum of understanding on bilateral cooperation. Also, signatures were placed on a $250 million crude oil trading agreement between Vietnam’s state-run giant PetroVietnam and Brunei’s state-owned giant Brunei Shell Petroleum Company, and a cooperation agreement between Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and Brunei Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Meanwhile, during Sang’s visit to Myanmar, from November 29 to December 1, he held talks with President of the Union of Myanmar Thein Sein and met with Speaker of Myanmar’s Lower House Thura Shwe Mann and Speaker of Myanmar’s Upper House Khin Aung Myint.

The two sides agreed to lift bilateral trade turnover to $500 million by 2015. They also discussed practical measures to boost cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, maritime cooperation, agriculture and fishery, oil and gas, labour and construction.

On this occasion, cooperation agreements were inked between the State Bank of Vietnam and Myanmar Central Bank, and between VCCI and Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Vietnam-Myanmar two-way trade turnover reached $167 million last year, up 9.8 per cent on-year, and $157.4 million in this year’s first nine months, up 29 per cent on-year. Vietnam has invested $500 million into Myanmar.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister Hoang Trung Hai also paid a working visit to the Netherlands during November 26-30 and co-chaired the 2nd session of the Vietnam-Netherlands inter-governmental committee on climate change adaptation and water management.  

During his meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the two leaders vowed to deepen the bilateral relationship, particularly in five sectors of priority including climate change adaptation and water management, agriculture, maritime economy, oil and gas, logistics. They also discussed measures to expand cooperation in economic, trade, investment, and education and training.