New Delhi (VNA) – Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang’s three-day state visit toBangladesh looks to intensify trade and investment promotion, and createfavourable conditions for businesses between the two countries to achieve atwo-way trade goal of 1 billion USD, according to the newspaper "DailyStar".

The Bangladeshi newspaperquoted a high official at the foreign ministry as saying that the bilateraltrade volume between Bangladesh and Vietnam was increasing.

On its article published on February 28 ahead of President Tran Dai Quang’svisit, which will start on March 4, the paper said “Bangladesh and Vietnam areenjoying economic cooperation, with trade reaching 609 million USD in 2016 fromonly 93 million USD in 2009. Bangladesh exports pharmaceuticals, raw materialsfor garments and machinery to Vietnam, while Vietnam's major exports toBangladesh include iron, steel, fibre, textiles, plastics, rubber andelectronics.”

It went on that “Dhakais eager to connect itself with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations,whose members are Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. It will seek support fromHanoi for its regional integration.”

According to thepaper, the diplomatic circle in Dhaka consider the upcoming visit significantas it will be able to avail the opportunity to seek support from Vietnam for adurable solution to the Rohingya crisis.

“The two countriesare likely to sign about half a dozen agreements and memorandums ofunderstanding for promotion of trade, investment, connectivity and cooperationduring the visit,” it said.

President Quang willvisit Dhaka at the invitation of his Bangladeshi counterpart Abdul Hamid. Hewill fly in Dhaka from New Delhi after a three-day visit to India.

President Hamidvisited Vietnam in August 2015, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in November 2015and Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in July 2017.

The paper quoted diplomaticsources as saying that ahead of Quang's visit, both the sides reached aconsensus that Bangladesh and Vietnam should intensify experience sharing, helpeach other in gender equality and poverty reduction, and cooperate in thefields of defence, aquaculture, education-training, culture and tourism.

Some 100 business representatives from top Vietnam companies will accompany theVietnamese president and interact with their Bangladesh counterparts andexplore trade and investment potentials in Bangladesh.

A business forum will be held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel on March 6.

Bangladesh andVietnam established diplomatic relations on February 17, 1973. Since then, thefriendship and cooperation between the two states have been enhanced in a widerange of areas, especially economy and trade.-VNA