Vietnam to facilitate Bangladesh’s initiatives to become ASEAN dialogue partner

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DHAKA, July 7, 2017 (BSS) – Vietnam has agreed to facilitate Bangladesh’s initiatives to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN and to join the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) initiative.

The agreement came when Dhaka sought Hanoi’s cooperation in this regard at the first ever Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held between the two countries at State Guest House Meghna here yesterday.

Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque and the visiting Vice-Minister of Vietnam Dang Dinh Quy led their respective sides in the meeting, a foreign office statement said here today.

During the meeting, major areas of bilateral cooperation with especial focus on increasing bilateral trade were discussed and both sides agreed to work closely to achieve the target of enhancing bilateral trade volume to USD 1 billion.

Bangladesh sought deeper cooperation in the Agriculture and Fisheries & Livestock sectors, particularly in agricultural research to develop stress tolerant and high yielding varieties rice and tropical fruits, exchange of germplasms and developing sustainable pearl culture technology.

Dhaka also urged Hanoi to ease visa process for Bangladeshi businessmen and tourists.

Vietnam expressed willingness to boost up bilateral cooperation in education and tourism sectors.

The both sides also stressed the need for regular exchange of visits at political level, including at the highest level, as well as regular contacts and interaction at the functional level, to steer bilateral cooperation.

Later, the Vietnamese Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam at the latter’s office. He also visited the Banabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi to pay tribute to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Sunday.