Myanmar

Vietnam and Myanmar’s Cooperative Talks

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Hoang Trung Hai, Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister, recently met with the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation in Myanmar, U Myint Hlaing, as well as the Minister of National Planning and Economic Development Tin Naing Thein. Topics on the discussion table included cooperation in fields “in accordance with the guidance of the two countries’ leaders.” Economic cohesion was also discussed with an agreement on “early implementation of specific projects and acceleration of the implementation of the existing agreements.”

Big Talks

Other major areas such as politics and diplomacy were also on the discussion table and an agreement between the two countries was made vis-à-vis delegation exchange “at all levels” as well as “people-to-people exchange.” When it came to what can be done to increase regional cooperation, there is already much of this in place. For example, the support Vietnam has lent to Myanmar’s “bid to assume ASEAN 2014 Chairmanship.” As for Myanmar, it reiterated its position vis-à-vis ASEAN East Sea issues “respecting the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) signed between ASEAN and China, and towards the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).”

More Support

In addition, the opening ceremony of the Vietnam and Myanmar business cooperation conference that Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo and Hai (VP and Deputy PM of Vietnam) attended in Nay Pyi Taw took place. This was definitely a big cheering contest by both countries, of both countries’ huge achievements and efforts over the years of increased cooperation.

Increased Ties Between Vietnam and Myanmar

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Talks in Vietnam on Cooperation Issues

Following talks in Nay Pyi Taw (Vietnam) last week between Hoang Trung Hai (Deputy PM to Vietnam) and Thia Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo (VP to Myanmar), an agreement was reached between the two countries to “increase cooperation” in areas such as agriculture, aviation, oil, automobile, finance and more. On the table for discussion was the countries eco-political status, bilateral relations and possible ways of “boosting cooperation” in the near future, especially vis-à-vis developments in economic trade vis-à-vis what has been the case in the past. Further, if Myanmar has better conditions, Hai said, there would be more Vietnamese firms working there.

Other Cooperation

Myanmar and Vietnam also saw the possibility of cooperation from other countries within the ASEAN and sub-regional framework like “cooperation between Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV), the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC), the South Economic Corridor (SEC) as well as at international fora.”

Animal Husbandry Cooperation

A memorandum was then signed on cooperation of animal husbandry between the Myanmar Ministry of Livestock Breeding and Fisheries, and the Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as well as a MoU on development cooperation between Myanmar’s Ministry of Finance and Revenue and the Vietnam Ministry of Finance.

Good Working Background

There is space for substantial optimism since Myanmar and Vietnamese leaders both recognized efforts and achievements that have been made in business over the last few years, especially this year with the implementation of the April high-level agreement, “creating favorable conditions for business and cooperation.” There is much work to be done still, but it looks like it’s a very positive environment in which to do this.