VNA 14/11/2011 - Vietnam attaches importance to boosting cooperation with Myanmar for the prosperity of the two countries and ASEAN’s development.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the statement while hosting a reception for Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar Armed Forces Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, in Hanoi on Nov. 14.

He spoke highly of results of the talks and the signing of a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation between the two countries, expressing his hope that Min Aung Hlaing’s visit will contribute to beefing up the bilateral relations.

Vietnam is delighted at Myanmar ’s achievements, especially the country’s success in the recent general election and the establishment of the new Government, Dung said, expressing his wish that the two countries would step up cooperation in economics, trade and investment and support each other at multilateral forums.

He suggested Myanmar support Vietnamese military enterprises to invest in the country, especially in telecommunications, banking and agricultural production.

Dung’s views were shared by Min Aung Hlaing, who said his visit aims to strengthen cooperation between the armies and people of the two countries, especially in discussions about specific cooperative areas.

The new Myanmar Government is opening the door for foreign investors, including those from Vietnam , the army chief affirmed

Earlier, Min Aung Hlaing met with Vietnamese Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh, who said the Myanmar army chief’s first visit to Vietnam is an important milestone that opens up a new period of development in the defence ties between the two countries, contributing to boosting the time-honoured solidarity and friendship between the armed forces and people of Vietnam and Myanmar.

The Myanmar Commander-in-Chief expressed his hope that his visit will reap fruitful results and help to bolster cooperation in military and national defence between the two countries’ armies.

The two sides briefed each other about their country’s socio-economic development and exchanged experience in building armed forces while discussing international and regional situations.

They reached consensus on measures to enhance cooperation in exchange of delegations, strategic defence dialogue, military medical care, exchange of intelligence information, coping with non-traditional security challenges and other areas of mutual concern.

After the meeting, Thanh and Min Aung Hlaing inked a memorandum of understanding on bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries’ armed forces./.