Ambassador of Vietnam to Myanmar, Dr. Luan Thuy Duong, recently published an article briefing historic milestones in Vietnam - Myanmar relations in over the past 70 years and shared her view on future development of the partnerships. The English version of the article is available on the Vietnam Times.

Myanmar is one of the earliest countries that established diplomatic relations with Vietnam.

In 1947, Vietnam set up the first communication agency in Yangon. In 1948, two sides agreed to upgrade the agency to Office of Information and Propaganda and in 1957, upgrading it to the Consulate-General. On May 28 1975, two sides officially established diplomatic relations and set up embassies in each other’s country.

President Tran Dai Quang (L) and Myanmar's President Htin Kyaw observe the honorable guards.

In his visit to Vietnam in November 1954, Prime Minister U Nu and President Ho Chi Minh inked the Joint Statement on diplomatic relations based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

The relations were nourished

In February 1958, President Ho Chi Minh made his official visit to Myanmar. In the Joint Statement, Myanmar affirmed its stance for the reunification of Vietnam according to Geneva Accord. Since then, bilateral ties have been unwaveringly nurtured, consolidated and reinforced.

As part of the state-level visit to Myanmar by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in August 2017, two sides signed the Joint Statement to upgrade bilateral ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

According to the Joint Statement, two countries’ relations were specified in a new framework which emphasizes comprehensive strategic partnership in every aspect, including five key areas of cooperation: politics, security-defence, economics, culture, social affairs and people exchange; regional and international cooperation.

With a new cooperation framework, two sides' relations have evolved tremendously. Twoway trade value hit USD 548.3 million in 2016, surpassing the target of USD 500 milion. In 2017, this value was USD 828.3 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase, in comparison with 2016.

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh (right) receives Myanmar's Minister of Border Affairs Ye Aung - Photo: VGP

Cooperation in security-defence has been growing widely and deeply, effectively and practically, with new contents of cooperations such as: young military officers exchange, Vietnamese and Burmese language training; military medical care; national defence industry; border management, fight against illegal migration, smuggling.Vietnam has become the seventh biggest investor of Myanmar with 70 projects and total registered capital of nearly USD 2 billion.

The Association of Vietnamese investors in Myanmar was chartered and reaped various achievements. There are several exemplary fruitful projects, such as: the Hoang Anh Gia Lai complex center in Yangon, the Vietnam-Myanmar non-stop flight route of Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air, the setup of subsidiary of the Bank of Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) and Viettel Telecom in Myanmar.

At the same time, two sides have inked Memorandum of Understandings to facilitate exchange in education and culture.

Look toward the future

The two sides' diplomatic relations have been growing impressively for the sake of both sides’ interests, contributing tremendously to the development of each country, and create favorable condition to bring bilateral ties to a more in-depth level.

Two sides’ leaders have committed to information sharing and reached concensus in multi areas of cooperation. Two sides holds annual Inter-governmental commitee meeting to discuss bilateral cooperation; political, security, defence consultation session and have set up a task force specializing in trade promotion.

Meanwhile, trade fairs are held every year to introduce two sides' products to each other's market and attract investors.

In April 2018, Myanmar's State Counsellor, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of the President's Office, Aung San Suu Kyi, visited Vietnam. During her visit, the two countries specified the vision for cooperation at present and in the future.

Two sides have emphasized delegation exchange at various levels and via various channels, including between two sides' Party, government and National Assembly, sharing the common view that close cooperation of two sides’ parties is significant.

At the same time, people exchange will help enhance the friendship and cooperation.

Two sides’ leaders also expressed their commitment to promoting cooperation in trade-investment, security-defence, agro-forestry-aquaculture, and reinforce cooperation in the sector of banking-finance, construction, education, healthcare, law and justice, energy, oil and gas, tourism, transportation and telecommunication.

Two sides will signed action plan for the 2018-2023 period to realize the comprehensive strategic partnership effectively.

Vietnam and Myanmar not only share a history of relentless resistance war to fight against foreign invaders for national independence, but also share certain similarities in culture.

This is a solid foundation to promote people-to-people exchange, cultural cooperation and community building.

However, while promoting comprehensive bilateral cooperation, challenges and hindrance remains. The first issue is the sensitiveness of cooperation in politics and security-defence.

In terms of bilateral relations, two countries must exchange experience while ensuring the process of political stabilization, maintenance of security, promoting economic reform and respecting the principles of non intervention in each other affairs.

In terms of multilateral ties, both Vietnam and Myanmar are ASEAN members, which requires them to be responsible to contribute initiatives to ASEAN, at the same time, making sure that bilateral ties does not affect multilateral ties and vice versa.

Vietnamese Defense Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich (L) and President of Myanmar Htin Kyaw. (source: PANO)

Secondly, as the government of Myanmar has to gather mass resources to settle its complicated internal affairs, ,it is a huge challenge to ensure a stable foreign policy.

Thirdly, due to complex development of the world and region situation, the conflict in Rakhine of Myanmar is internationalized, the East Sea issue is threatening the sovereignty of Vietnam, external pressure are emerging.

Two sides therefore need to increase mutual trust, increase information, opinion sharing activities and lend each other more supports in international and regional forum, to ensure sound development of bilateral ties.

Learning from each other

Today, the goverment of Myanmar still has to cope with various obstacles to strive toward international integration, and ensure stable development.

The country still has to deal with various internal political issues, the implementation of socio-economic programme and in the international arena. The humanitarian crisis in Rakhine has become the central of criticism and pressure from the international community.

However, Myanmar has always been full of positive energy. Every government, regardless of what regime it is, all commits to bringing peace, reconciliation and development to the country.

The people of Myanmar are diligent, hardworking and possess strong sense of national dignity, which will surely bring Myanmar forward.

Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi (R) and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met on the sidelines of ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit in January.

During this process, the role of Aung San Suu Kyi is very important. As daughter of General Aung San, the leader of the fight for the country’s independence, she is the symbol of Mynamar’s democracy. She is the one who is able to connect 135 ethnic groups of Myanmar, connecting civil and armed force, and guide Myanmar people on the path toward peace and democracy.

She is a brilliant diplomat who can help Myanmar overcome international pressures and realize the international relations policy which focuses on independence and national dignity.

Inheriting the affection of her late father for Vietnam in the past, Aung San Suu Kyi is also a good friend of Vietnam.

Myanmar regards Vietnam as a traditional friend, a trusted partner in ASEAN as well as in international and regional forum.

The country has expressed its willingness to learn from Vietnam's experiences in economic development, and reform, which opens an opportunity for Vietnam to continue implementing the development of Comprehensive partnership with Myanmar.

At the same time, Vietnam needs to learn from Myanmar's experience in managing private economic sector, foreign investment, advancement of tertiary education and conservation of traditional culture./.

( Translated by Phi Yen )