Vietnamese PM kicks off Myanmar visit

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his wife arrived in Myanmar on August 14 to begin his official visit to the country.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his wife arrived in Myanmar on August 14 to begin his official visit to the country.

Upon his arrival, PM Dung paid a courtesy visit to Sr. Gen. Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council and held talks with Acting Prime Minister Sen. Lieu. Gen. Thein Sein.

At the talks, the two leaders spoke openly on their countries respective socio-economic environment.

The Acting Myanmar PM went on to laud the policies on renewal, external relations, regional and international integration that Viet Nam has pursued.

Mentioning Viet Nam s growing prestige in the region and world arena, the Myanmar leader expressed his belief that the country would become an industrialised country by 2020.

PM Dung told his host that he was pleased to know that Myanmar has gained initial good outcomes in the roadmap to securing a seven-point democracy and successfully organised a national congress in July to prepare for the promulgation of a new constitution and the organisation of a general election.

The Vietnamese leader said he hoped the Myanmar people would continue to advance steadily on the road to secure peace, national reconciliation, sustainable development, stability and prosperity.

The two leaders were satisfied with the friendship and cooperation that the two countries have enjoyed over the past 32 years and discussed ways to expand upon the relationship.

An emphasis was placed on the organisation of the sixth session of the Viet Nam-Myanmar Joint Committee and increasing trade, oil and gas, transport, communications, post and telecommunications, agriculture, health, culture and education and training ties.

On trade, the two leaders said there remains much room for growth although they were satisfied with the 20 percent growth rate in two-way trade in 2006.

The two leaders praised the signing of an agreement on a strategic partnership between the Viet Nam Oil and Gas Group and the Myanmar Energy Ministry during this visit, describing it as a new development step in the two countries economic cooperation.

They were happy with the Vietnam Airlines plan to launch a Ha Noi-Yangon direct air route in November to cater for the increased tourism demand between the two countries.

At the talks, the Myanmar officials pledged to create favourable conditions for the Viet Nam Military Telecommunications Corporation, Viettel, to invest in telecom services in their country.

On regional and international issues, the two leaders shared the view that the two countries have coordinated closely at multilateral forums, such as ASEAN, Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Viet Nam cooperation programme, ACMECS, the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), the East West Economic Corridor (EWEC).

They both lauded the outcome of the ACMECS Foreign Ministers Meeting held in Myanmar in May and the preparations for the third ACMECS Summit slated for Viet Nam in October this year.

The two leaders expressed their determination to lift the two countries friendly and multi-faceted cooperation to a new height for the sake of mutual benefits and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in Southeast Asia and the world.

Following the talks, PM Nguyen Tan Dung and Acting PM Thein Sein witnessed the signing of a contract to explore and exploit oil and gas in Myanmar between the Viet Nam National Oil and Gas Group and the Myanmar Oil and Gas Group.

In the evening, Acting PM Thein Sein and his wife hosted a banquet in honour of PM Dung, his wife and other entourage.

(Source: VNA)