Hanoi (VNA) – The parliaments of Myanmar andVietnam should enhance cooperation and increase the sharing of legislative experience,particularly in improving capacity for female legislators, Myanmar StateCounsellor Aung San Suu Kyi told National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi KimNgan.

NA Chairwoman Ngan hosted a reception for the Myanmarleader in Hanoi on April 20 during which she lauded the increasingly importantrole of women in Vietnam and the world at large, adding that women have becomemore equal to men, many of them became prestigious national leaders like AungSann Suu Kyi.

The top lawmaker expressed her hope that, with herability to inspire and motivate others, the State Counsellor will help Myanmardevelop peacefully and stably, and gain greater achievements in the time ahead.

The NA leader highly spoke of the strong progress of the bilateralrelations in recent years and affirmed that Vietnam always wants to expand tieswith Myanmar in all fields for the benefit of their people.

Vietnam backs Myanmar’s efforts for socio-economicdevelopment and national reconciliation and wishes for prosperity in Myanmar,Ngan said.

Both leaders were delighted at the recent development ofcooperation between the two legislative bodies. The two sides have wellimplemented their agreement signed in July, 2013 and maintained regularexchanges of high-level visits since then.

Aung San Suu Kyi said, in her position, she always supportsthe enhancement of cooperation between the two parliaments as they are veryimportant bodies that represent the people’s voice and are at the forefront ofnational reforms.

She informed Chairwoman Ngan on the results of her talks with PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in which the two sides discussed directions forbilateral cooperation, including measures to encourage Myanmar investors to do businessin Vietnam and vice versa, and ways to achieve higher two-way trade value.

The State Counsellor said she was impressed to learn thatVietnamese ministries have cut more than 600 business and investment conditionsand she hopes the Vietnamese NA, government and ministries will shareexperience with Myanmar in this area.

Chairwoman Ngan noted that Vietnam is pushing forvigorous reforms in public administrative procedures with the focus on taxation, tradeand customs to create favourable conditions for businesses.

The country has been working to make its business climateinto Top 4 in ASEAN, she said, adding that the NA of Vietnam has worked withthe Government to review the laws and make amendments to those that cause legalbarriers to enterprises.

Ngan went on to say that as Myanmar is a potential marketwhere Vietnamese firms want to make long-term investment, she hopes the StateCounsellor will pay attention to facilitating Vietnamese businesses in Myanmar.

[Myanmar’s regulations hinder trade with Vietnam]

Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, who is alsoMyanmar’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the President’s Office, paidher first official visit to Vietnam from April 19-20 at the invitation of PMNguyen Xuan Phuc. Her visit takes place in a context of increased politicaltrust and cooperation between the two nations.

Vietnam and Myanmar have shared a sound traditionalfriendship. Myanmar was one of the first Southeast Asian countries to set updiplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1975 and whole-heartedly supported Vietnamduring the struggle for national independence and reunification.

The two countries elevated their bilateral ties to a comprehensive cooperativepartnership during a State visit to Myanmar by General Secretary of theCommunist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong in August 2017.

Bilateral trade reached 828.3 million USD in 2017, up 51 percent from 2016.Vietnam has become the 7th biggest foreign investor in Myanmar with 70projects, worth nearly 2 billion USD.-VNA