President Tran Dai Quang is welcomed at Hazrat Shahjalal Airport in Bangladesh, February 4, 2018.

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency on this occasion, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Vietnam-Bangladesh relations will witness great strides thanks to President Quang’s visit.

According to Prime Minister Hasina, the people of Bangladesh and Vietnam have similarity in their struggle for independence and social and cultural traditions. Vietnam’s epic struggle for independence inspired the Bangladeshi people in their war of independence in 1971. Ms. Hasina suggested that the two countries should work more closely together to benefit from multilateral trade mechanisms, promote business and investment in each country, and share best practices in attaining the sustainable development goals.

Prime Minister Hasina said the visit, which marks the 45^th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year, reflects Vietnam’s desire to enhance friendship and cooperation with Bangladesh, who is very eager to deepen friendship and sectoral cooperation with Vietnam. The visit will help bring the two countries closer, the Prime Minister concluded.

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (Photo: The Hindu/VNA)

The daily English-language newspaper The Daily Star highlighted President Quang’s visit as a boost to trade, investment, and business relations. The newspaper quoted a senior foreign affairs official as saying that the two countries aim to raise bilateral trade to 1 billion USD. The Daily Star also carried an interview with President Quang, titled “Vietnam is keen to boost ties with Bangladesh”. It quoted Mr. Quang as saying that Vietnam and Bangladesh have a time-honoured friendship based on historical similarities and shared values of independence, peace, cooperation, and development. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 45 years ago, leaders and people of the two nations have treasured and preserved this valuable relationship, and spared no effort to improve it.