Hanoi(VNA) – Since Vietnam and Bangladesh set up their diplomatic relations onFebruary 11, 1973, the two sides have enjoyed close ties with strong politicaltrust, which lays a firm foundation for them to promote partnership across allfields.

Over the past 50years, the two sides have stood by stood and support each other during national construction,defence and economic development in each country.

Along withmaintaining regular high-level visits and meetings, the two sides have agreedto work closely to build a long-term vision for bilateral relations, increasevisits at high and all levels, strengthen meetings of existing cooperation mechanisms,and consider the resumption and upgrading of the Joint Committee on economic,culture, science and technology cooperation in the time to come.

They have concurredto strengthen cooperation in defence-security, economy, trade, investment, education,agriculture, fisheries and breeding, while promoting cultural and tourism exchanges,and focusing on reviewing and extending cooperation agreements such as thememorandum of understanding (MoU) on fisheries and breeding cooperation, a MoUon tourism collaboration, another on machinery manufacturing, and a culturalexchange programme for the new period. The two countries will work to sign anew MoU on information technology cooperation, and another on trade promotion.

Vietnam andBangladesh have coordinated closely at international forums, especially the UN.Bangladesh supported Vietnam to run for a seat at the UN Security Council inthe 2020-2021 tenure. Both countries were elected to the UN Human Rights Councilin the 2023-2025 tenure.

The two countrieshave shared viewpoints and stance at forums of developing countries such as theNon-Aligned Movement and South-South Cooperation, as well as in global issuessuch as climate change, natural disaster mitigation, water security, energysecurity and migration.

Particularly,economic and trade partnership has been a highlight of bilateral relations.Bangladesh is currently one of the leading trade partners of Vietnam in SouthAsia. Two-way trade surged from 288 million USD to nearly 800 million USD inthe 2010-2014 period, while maintaining a rising trend in recent years,reaching 1,465 billion USD in 2022 and 555 million USD in the first half of2023.

Vietnam exportsrice, animal feed, and chemical materials to Bangladesh, while importingaquatic products, tobacco raw materials and pharmaceuticals from the country.

The two sides arestriving for 2 billion USD in trade revenue by increasing trade promotionactivities and working for the opening of a direct air route.

The Bangladeshi sideproposed that Vietnam invest in Bangladesh's industrial parks and softwaretechnology parks, pledging to give incentives for Vietnamese investors, while welcomingVietnam to increase exports of strong products to Bangladesh such asagricultural machinery, raw materials, household appliances, electronics, andprocessed agricultural and aquatic products.

Regardinginvestment, Bangladesh currently invests in 18 projects in Vietnam with a totalcapital of 930,000 USD.

Bilateralcooperation in agriculture, fisheries, tourism and culture has also beenfruitful.

In terms of education,Vietnam organised nearly 20 training courses on public administration for about500 Bangladeshi Government officials in Vietnam.

On the firm foundationbuilt by leaders and people of the two countries, Vietnam and Bangladesh have beendetermined to lift the bilateral ties to a new height. The upcoming Bangladeshvisit by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue starting from September 21is expected to open up a new development period in the friendship andcooperation between Vietnam and Bangladesh./.