(VOVworld)- National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung will make official visits to the Republic of Korea from July 21 to 24 and to Myanmar from July 24 to 26. The visits aim to strengthen mutual understanding, friendship and bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and these two countries and map out cooperative mechanism between legislative bodies.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung’s visit to the Republic of Korea takes place amidst fine developments of the bilateral relationship. The two countries have regularly exchanged high-ranking delegations and organized numerous activities to mark the 20^th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties, contributing to deepening their strategic partnership. Vietnamese Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Tran Trong Toan says: "The Vietnamese-RoK relationship has been developing rapidly since their diplomatic ties were established in 1992. In August 2001, the two countries upgraded their relationship to the comprehensive cooperative partnership and to the strategic cooperative partnership 8 years later, in October 2009. Since then, bilateral relations have developed strongly. Both sides have also enhanced mutual political trust.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung received the Republic of Korea's National Assembly Speaker Kang Chang-hee in Vietnam in January, 2013

The cooperation between localities of Vietnam and the Republic of Korea has been expanded. So far, about 30 cities and provinces in Vietnam have developed cooperation with the Korean ones. Vietnamese-RoK and RoK-Vietnamese Friendship Associations are the bridges linking the two cultures and boosting bilateral ties. The fine development of bilateral ties have been attributed to their similarities concerning culture and interests promoted by their leaders. During his visit, Chairman Hung will hold talks with his Korean counterpart Kang Chang-hee and meet with Korean leaders to discuss ways to further the strategic partnership in the near future.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Myanmar President Thein Sein- Photo:nhandan.com.vn

After the Republic of Korea, Chairman Hung will visit Myanmar at the invitation of Myanmar’s Upper House Speaker Khin Aung Myint. The Myanmar Parliament’s election held for the first time in 20 years and President Thein Sein’s active internal and external policies plus his efforts to promote democracy and integration are favorable conditions for Vietnam and Myanmar to strengthen cooperation. Over the past years, the two countries have strengthened the traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation. Many high-ranking visits have been made including Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit to Myanmar in April 2010, President Thein Sein’s visit to Vietnam in March 2012 and Myanmar Parliament Speaker Khin Aung Myint’s visit in June last year. These visits have heightened the bilateral ties. Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh said:“In recent years, Vietnam and Myanmar have worked out a number of cooperation frameworks in economics, trade, politics, external relations, national defense and security. This visit is an opportunity for both sides to further bilateral cooperation.”

During his visit to Myanmar, Chairman Hung is invited by Speaker Khin Aung Myint to deliver a speech at the Myanmar’s Parliament as the second foreign politician after the UN Secretary General. This reflects Myanmar’s respect for the Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman and Vietnam in general as well as its determination to boost the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries and the two legislative bodies.

Chairman Hung’s visits to RoK and Myanmar shows Vietnam’s consistent policy of treasuring friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with the two important partners in East Asia and at the same time building a more effective cooperation mechanism between legislative bodies. This is also an opportunity for Vietnam to gain support from these two countries to host the 132^nd International Parliamentary Union Congress in 2015 thus heightening Vietnam’s position in the international arena.