NAY PYI TAW — Việt Nam’s Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng and President of Myanmar Htin Kyaw agreed to establish a bilateral comprehensive co-operative partnership during their talks in Nay Pyi Taw on Thursday.

President Htin Kyaw stressed that Trọng’s visit is an important milestone and will open up a new chapter in the two countries’ ties. 

Meanwhile, Party chief Trọng noted that the visit will allow the two sides to outline strategic orientations to create new impetus for bilateral ties. 

They expressed their delight to see Việt Nam-Myanmar ties growing across diverse areas with two-way trade hitting US$548.3 million last year, exceeding the target of $500 million. Việt Nam is the ninth largest trade partner and seventh largest foreign investor of Myanmar. 

Both sides agreed on major plans to lift bilateral ties to a greater height by intensifying political links at all levels, especially at the highest level while continuing to strengthen bilateral relations via the Party, Government, National Assembly, sector and local channels. 

People-to-people exchanges will be increased, especially for young leaders and people. 

On national defence-security, they pledged to soon establish a national defence policy dialogue mechanism at the deputy ministerial and vice chief of the general staff levels and a joint working group at the head of the external relations agency level. 

The two countries will reinforce joint work in the defence industry, army medical training, sharing of information, consultation and mutual support at bilateral forums, especially within the framework of the ASEAN Defence Ministerial Meeting (ADMM) and the ADMM Plus. 

They vowed to not allow any individuals or organisations to make use of either country’s territory to sabotage the other country. 

Regarding economic co-operation, the two sides proposed promoting current momentum and supporting each other to host trade and investment promotion activities to increase trade value. 

They suggested co-operation in banking, finance, aviation, telecommunication, and other supplementary fields such as mining, agro-forestry-fisheries, tourism and consumer products. 

It is also necessary to increase exchanges and share experience in economic management and institutional reform. 

Việt Nam and Myanmar agreed to enhance air, land and sea route connectivity through stronger co-operation in seaport construction, maritime and aviation transport, and shipbuilding, as well as consider establishing an aviation joint venture and developing roads connecting the two countries, within the co-operation framework of ASEAN, the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), and Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Việt Nam. 

The transport of passengers and goods along bilateral economic corridors will help promote trade, investment and tourism exchanges between Việt Nam and Myanmar and in the region. 

President Htin Kyaw welcomed Vietnamese firms to step up investment in Myanmar for mutual benefits and lauded Việt Nam’s investment of $500 million in tourism. 

The two leaders agreed to push ahead with information and viewpoint exchanges in organisations like the GMS, the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC), and the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Co-operation Strategy to intensify co-operation in using water resources from the Mekong River sustainably for the prosperity of the region and each country. 

President Htin Kyaw affirmed Myanmar supports Việt Nam candidacy for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council in 2020-21. 

As regards the East Sea (South China Sea) issue, the two leaders agreed that any disputes in the sea should be settled through peaceful measures and in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. 

They called on involved parties to fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and soon reach a Code of Conduct in the East Sea to maintain regional peace, stability, security and co-operation. 

The leaders emphasised that Việt Nam and Myanmar need to strengthen co-ordination with other ASEAN member nations to maintain internal solidarity and unity as well as promote the central role of ASEAN in the regional architectures, realise the ASEAN Community’s targets, and contribute to peace and stability in the region. — VNS