(VOVWORLD) - Vietnam and Myanmar agreed on Tuesday to expand cooperation in defense, logistics, search and rescue, and fighting crimes, terrorism, money laundering, and illegal migration.
 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and State Counselor of MyanmarAung San Suu Kyi, December 17, 2019. (Photo: VNA) |
The agreement was reached during talks between visiting Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Myanmar’s State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi. The two sides pledged not to let any individual or organization use their territory to conduct sabotage activities against the other country and agreed to accelerate talks on extradition and transfer of imprisoned people.
The Myanmar State Counselor promised to create the best conditions for Vietnamese businesses to export to and invest in Myanmar.
Prime Minister Phuc said the Vietnamese government encourages Vietnamese enterprises to invest in Myanmar and calls for Myanmar enterprises to increase their investment in Vietnam. He praised the idea of establishing a Vietnam Industrial Park in Myanmar.
The two leaders underlined the importance of maintaining peace, stability, and cooperation in the East Sea, settling disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation, respecting legal and diplomatic processes, not using or threatening to use force, fully abiding by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and soon finalizing the Code of Conduct in the East Sea.
“We are impressed with the expanded trade between the two countries which has exceeded the target of 1 billion USD. Vietnam has invested in more than 20 projects in Myanmar. We discussed ways to further bilateral ties, particularly cooperation in national defense and security and external affairs,” Prime Minister Phuc told a press conference following the talks.
“We agreed to support each other at regional and international forums. We support ASEAN’s stance on building a peaceful East Sea with respect for UNCLOS. Myanmar promised to support Vietnam’s role as the ASEAN Chair 2020 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the 2020-2021 tenure,” he said.
 PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Myanmar President U Win Myint. (Photo: VNA) |
At an earlier meeting, Prime Minister Phuc and Myanmar President U Win Myint shared the view that the comprehensive cooperative partnership between the two countries has been growing fruitfully, while the friendship, mutual understanding and political trust has been enhanced through the regular exchange of high-level visits and meetings, and people-to-people exchanges.