Vietnam, Myanmar raise co-operation

President Truong Tan Sang (left) and Myanmar President U Thein Sein at the signing ceremony.

The agreement was reached at talks between President Truong Tan Sang and Myanmar President U Thein Sein on November 29 in Myanmar’s capital city of Nay Pyi Taw, after a welcome ceremony for President Sang earlier the same day.

During their meeting held prior to the talks, Thein Sein applauded President Sang’s visit, saying that it will significantly contribute to boosting the traditional friendship and multifaceted co-operation between the two countries.

Thein Sein congratulated Vietnam on its important achievements in socio-economy and external relations, expressing his belief that the country will successfully implement its Socio-Economic Plan in 2011-2020, soon become an industrialised country and play an increasingly important role in the region and the world.

He thanked Vietnam for its continued support of Myanmar’s process of political, social and economic reform.

In reply, President Sang congratulated Myanmar on its recent success in innovation, national reconciliation and development as well as international integration.

President Sang said he believes that Myanmar will attain significant achievements in building a country of stability and prosperity and successfully perform the role of ASEAN Chair in 2014 and SEA Games host in 2013.

At their talks, both leaders expressed their delight at the sound development in the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries since they established diplomatic ties 35 years ago.

The two sides highlighted the need to strengthen delegation exchanges at all levels as well as people-to-people exchanges to boost mutual trust and understanding.

They agreed that the two countries effectively implement existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms and frequently review the implementation of the signed agreements to strengthen cooperation.

They agreed that defence and security cooperation between both sides has developed positively, especially since the signing of the defence cooperation agreement in 2011 and the crime control and prevention cooperative treaty in 2004.

They also agreed to set up a security dialogue mechanism at a deputy ministerial level between the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and the Myanmar Ministry of Home Affairs.

Hailing important achievements in economics, trade and investment in recent years, especially in 12 priority fields agreed in April, 2010, the two sides agreed to boost trade promotion activities, including holding trade fairs and exhibitions, to bring two-way trade to US$500 million by 2015.

Thein Sein pledged to create all possible favourable conditions for Vietnam ’s investment projects in Myanmar and asked Vietnam to share its renewal and economic development experiences with Myanmar .

The two leaders vowed to work closely at multilateral forums and support each other’s membership of regional and international organisations.

Vietnam will do its utmost and share experiences with Myanmar to help the country successfully chair ASEAN in 2014, President Sang said.

They agreed on maintaining peace, stability, security, maritime safety and freedom in the East Sea and settling disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Both sides welcomed the bloc’s Six-point Principles on the East Sea and the Joint Statement of the ASEAN – China Summit celebrating the 10 th anniversary of ratifying the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

They agreed to abide by DOC and establish the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC).

Following the talks, both leaders witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding to exchange banking supervision information between the State Bank of Vietnam and the Central Bank of Myanmar , and a cooperation agreement between the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group and Myanmar ’s Ministry of Energy.

Later, a State banquet in honour of President Sang was hosted by President Thein Sein.