VN, Myanmar issue Joint Statement

JOINT STATEMENT

Between

THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM

AND THE REPUBLIC OF THE UNION OF MYANMAR

on the State Visit of

President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar U Htin Kyaw

to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

(Ha Noi, 26 – 28 October 2016) 

1. At the invitation of H.E. Mr. Tran Dai Quang, President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, H.E. U Htin Kyaw, President of the Republic of Union of Myanmar paid a State Visit to Viet Nam from 26 to 28 October 2016. He was accompanied by his wife Daw Su Su Lwin and the high-level delegation of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

2. During the visit, President Htin Kyaw paid homage at the Monument of National Heroes and Martyrs. He was accorded a ceremonial reception at President Palace. President Tran Dai Quang held a bilateral meeting with him and hosted a State Banquet at his honour. President Htin Kyaw called on H.E. Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam; held talks with H.E.Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam; visited a number of cultural establishments; met with Vietnamese business delegation; and met with the Myanmar’s community in Ha Noi.

3. President Tran Dai Quang congratulated the President and the National League for Democracy Party on the victory in the general election in November 2015 and highly valued the achievements attained by the new government of Myanmar in the process of national reconciliation, economic and social development and expanding foreign relations, including the successful hosting of the 37^th ASEAN Inter-Parliament Assembly (AIPA-37). The President believed that the new government will lead Myanmar toward sustainable development and stability. President Tran Dai Quang also congratulated the new government of Myanmar on significant development in the peace process and national reconciliation in Myanmar, including the organization of the 21st Century Panglong Conference.

4. President Htin Kyaw congratulated important accomplishments Viet Nam has achieved over 30 years of “Doi Moi”, especially in ensuring social welfare and sustainable growth. He expressed his confidence that Viet Nam will meet the goal of becoming a modernized industrial country with the elevating role and status in the region and the world. The President recognized the value of the official visit to Myanmar and attending AIPA 37 of the Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Viet Nam and believed the cooperation through parliamentary channel will contribute significantly to the promotion of cordial and friendship relations between the two countries.

5. The two Presidents reaffirmed the importance of the foundation of traditional friendship laid by President Ho Chi Minh and General Aung San. The two leaders also acknowledged the achievements that bring benefits to both sides after more than 40 years of diplomatic relation. The two sides expressed satisfaction at the progress in strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in the 12 priority areas including agriculture, industrial crops, fishery, banking and finance, aviation, telecommunication, oil and gas, mining, electric equipment production, automobile manufacturing and assembling, construction and trade and investment cooperation.

6. Noting the economic and strategic development in the region in recent years, as well as the common interests in the maintenance of security, stability and economic development in the region, both Leaders are committed to further promote achievements, to expand and deepen the friendly relationship between Viet Nam and Myanmar.

7. The President of Viet Nam and the President of Myanmar agreed to increase the exchange of high-level visits and contacts at all levels and between the Communist Party, State, Government and National Assembly of Viet Nam and Parties, State, Government and Parliament of Myanmar. Both countries committed to uphold the existing cooperative mechanisms, including the organization of the 9^th session of the Viet Nam-Myanmar Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation in Viet Nam, the 7^th session of the Political Consultation at Deputy Foreign Minister level in Myanmar and in 2017 and other specialized cooperative mechanisms.

8. The two sides committed to further deepen the bilateral investment and trade relations on the basis of mutual interests and to create the most favorable conditions for development of business activities. President Htin Kyaw took note of the activities of the Association of Viet Nam Investors in Myanmar-AVIM. The President reaffirmed that the Government of Myanmar will create favorable conditions for the connecting and pioneering areas of cooperation including banking, transportation, telecommunication and mining. The two sides agreed to organize the 9^th session of the Viet Nam-Myanmar Joint Sub-Committee on Trade in Viet Nam in 2016, expedite the negotiation process for early signing of Agreements on Customs, Finance, and amend the Agreement on Investment Facilitation and Protection and the MoU on Investment Promotion between the two sides as required by the new situations.

9. The two Leaders exchanged views, common interests on regional peace, security and affirmed the commitments to enhance security and defense between the two countries through sharing information, experiences, taking advantage of existing cooperation mechanisms and considered the possibility of setting up the Defense Policy Dialogue mechanism and Joint Working Group mechanism between the two Ministries of Defense at the earliest possible as well as to organize the 5^th session of the Security Dialogue in Viet Nam in the time to come, to proactively negotiate on the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters between the two countries. The two sides also recognized the importance of cooperation in dealing with traditional and non-traditional security challenges; encourages law enforcement agencies of the two sides to proactively cooperate to not allow any individual or organization to use their soil for hostile activities against the other side; to facilitate, provide security, safety and protection for respective citizens of each other’s country.

10. The two Presidents welcomed the growing connectivity between the two countries, including in the areas of agriculture, telecommunication, transportation, justice, culture, education, tourism. The two sides are determined to enhance these connectivity through promotion of cooperation and signing of agreements to create legal basis in specific cooperation areas.  

11. The two Leaders encouraged enhancement of people-to-people exchanges and connectivity between localities of the two countries, especially between Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh city and Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon City. President Htin Kyaw agreed for the early establishment of Myanmar – Viet Nam Friendship Association to facilitate bilateral relations together with Viet Nam – Myanmar Friendship Association.

12. The two Leaders highly appreciated close cooperation at regional and international forum; agreed to foster relations at the ASEAN frameworks and other regional and international forums, such as: CLMV, ACMECS, EWEC, GMS and the United Nations; work together to make use of Mekong river water in a sustainable and efficient manner, especially in the framework of Mekong River Commission (MRC) and related agencies. The President of Myanmar congratulated Viet Nam on the successful hosting of the 7^th ACMECS, 8^th CLMV, WEF-Mekong in Ha Noi (24-26/10/2016) and Myanmar took note of the request made by Viet Nam to consider to be a full-fledged member of the MRC.

13. The President of Viet Nam and the President of Myanmar reaffirmed their commitment to upholding peace, stability, and prosperity in the region, including advancing ASEAN community building efforts through the full and effective implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, and reaffirmed the importance of peaceful resolution of regional disputes as well as efforts to maintain unity and promotion of the central role of ASEAN in the regional architecture.

14. The two leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to maintaining and promoting peace, security and stability in the region, as well as to the peaceful resolution of disputes, including full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, without resorting to the threat or use of force, in accordance with the universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

15. The two Presidents reaffirmed their support for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and work expeditiously for the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

16. President Htin Kyaw expressed appreciation to President Tran Dai Quang for the warm welcome and kind hospitality accorded to him, his wife and the Myanmar delegation and extended a cordial invitation to President Tran Dai Quang and wife to visit Myanmar in the near future which was accepted with much pleasure.

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