Myanmar Parliament Speaker U Shwe Mann arrived in Hanoi on September 5, beginning a four-day visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Vietnam National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung.

Myanmar is rich in natural resources, with farmland spanning 23 million hectares. Agriculture makes up approximately 40% of the country’s total exports.

Since 1988 Myanmar has carried out economic reform, shifting from the subsidy to market economy, promulgated the foreign investment law, and allowed for the establishment of private businesses.

In its foreign policy, Myanmar wants to boost friendly relations with all countries in the world, particularly with neighbouring and regional countries, on a basis of respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-intervention in each other affairs, equality and mutual benefit.

It has joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), and the United Nations.

Vietnam and Myanmar established ties very early. In 1947 Vietnam opened its resident representative office in the then capital Yangon. In May 1975 their consular relations were upgraded to the ambassadorial level.

Bilateral relations have developed considerably through the regular exchange of high-level visits and regular meeting of the joint committee.

Both countries have closely coordinated at regional and international forums, including the greater Mekong subregion (GMS) and the Ayeyarwady - Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS).  

VOV/VNN