NAY PYI TAW – National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân has said her visit to Myanmar aims to show the Vietnamese parliament’s resolve to reinforce the traditional friendship and multi-faceted co-operation between the two countries and legislative bodies.

She made the remark at a meeting yesterday with Speaker of Myanmar’s parliament and Upper House, Mahn Win Khaing Than, following the welcome ceremony at the Myanmar parliament’s headquarters in Nay Pyi Taw.

She congratulated Myanmar on the successful general election last November and on completing the final step in the seven-step roadmap for national building. She voiced the belief that with the new leadership, it will become a prosperous country with a higher stature in the international arena.

Việt Nam and Myanmar boast a time-honoured amity, the Chairwoman said, noting that Myanmar is one of the first Southeast Asian nations to set up diplomatic ties with Việt Nam. It strongly supported her country during the struggle for national liberation, and Việt Nam always keeps in mind that valuable assistance.

She lauded the countries’ effective co-operation in defence-security, economics, trade, investment, culture and tourism. There are now 11 Vietnamese-invested projects with a total registered capital of almost US$700 million in Myanmar.

To enhance collaboration, she asked the two parliaments to urge their Government agencies to implement important co-operation mechanisms, including organising the ninth meeting of the joint committee for bilateral co-operation in 2016.

Ngân rejoiced at the sound development of the two parliaments’ relations, asking them to continue co-ordination in supervision to ensure that the countries’ co-operation agreements are implemented effectively.

They should increase sharing experience, particularly in institution building, lawmaking and supervision over law enforcement. She also asked the Myanmar parliament to continuously consider and support necessary revisions to mechanisms, policies and laws so as to boost trade and investment partnership.

Echoing the view, the Myanmar Speaker said the parliaments need to promote delegation exchanges to learn from each other’s experience and improve the capacity of parliamentarians.

He spoke highly of Việt Nam’s socio-economic achievements, adding that the two nations share many similarities and his country wants to learn more about Việt Nam’s reform experience.

The Myanmar parliament is adapting some legal documents to the current socio-economic situation and building new laws. It is also considering revising investment-related laws so as to attract foreign investment, including from Việt Nam, he added.

At the meeting, Chairman Ngân said Việt Nam is ready to help Myanmar fulfill the duties of the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2017. She also delivered the invitation to visit Việt Nam to the Myanmar Speaker, who accepted with pleasure.

Also yesterday, NA Chairwoman Ngân met with Speaker of Myanmar’s House of Representatives (Lower House) U Win Myint, saying that Việt Nam wishes to enhance the long-standing friendship and multi-faceted co-operation with Myanmar, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

The NA Chairwoman congratulated Myanmar on its attainments in national reconciliation, security and political stability, economic development and foreign affairs.

Myanmar’s hosting of the 37th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA 37) demonstrates that regional countries have trust in the country and appreciate its increasingly important role and position in the world arena, she noted.

For his part, Myint said Myanmar wishes to partner with the Vietnamese NA in making law.

Applauding Việt Nam’s socio-economic achievements, particularly in aquaculture and seafood processing, the host noted his hope that Việt Nam will share its experience in this field with Myanmar.

The Vietnamese and Myanmar legislatures have closely co-ordinated with each other at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the AIPA, he said, calling for Việt Nam’s contributions to the AIPA 37 to be hosted by Myanmar from September 29 to October 3. — VNS