Top legislator receives leaders of Bangladeshi political parties

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (right) and President of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) Shah Alam. (Photo: VNA)

Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue received leaders of political parties in Bangladesh on September 22. The NA leader conveyed regards from the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong to the President and other leaders of the CPB. Hue affirmed that to achieve its set targets, Vietnam needs the support and solidarity of international friends, including Bangladesh, and political parties in the country. The CPV always treasures its traditional friendship with the CPB, the NA Chairman wishes the CPB will successfully fulfill the set targets and tasks and continue to uphold its pioneering role in the communist, left-wing movement in Bangladesh.

For his part, Alam noted his hope that Vietnam will soon become a development partner of Bangladesh. Alam said he hoped that there would be more Vietnamese businesses to operate in Bangladesh for mutual benefits.

Both leaders also agreed on the need to enhance the friendship and cooperation between the two countries in general and the two Parties in particular, promote investment and trade ties, and open direct air routes between the two countries soon. Vietnam and Bangladesh will continue to support each other’s views and stances at multilateral and international forums, with respect to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS), thus ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, and addressing disputes by peaceful measures, they affirmed.

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (right) and President of the Workers Party of Bangladesh (WPB) Rashed Khan Menon. (Photo: VNA)

Meeting with the President of the Workers Party of Bangladesh (WPB) Rashed Khan Menon, who is also Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Welfare Ministry, Hue also conveyed regards from Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to the WPB leader and members. Hue affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State always attach importance to and want to foster traditional friendship with Bangladesh in all channels and sectors.

Menon emphasized that the relationship between Vietnam and Bangladesh has been developing across fields, with remarkable achievements seen in the bilateral trade and investment ties over the past time. He suggested the two countries strengthen their cooperation as ample room remains and the two economies are reciprocal, and increase the exchange of delegations, especially those of youths and women.

NA Chairman attends opening ceremony of photo exhibition on Vietnam-Bangladesh ties

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (2nd from left) and other delegates at the photo exhibition. (Photo: VNA)

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue joined a ribbon-cutting ceremony to kick off a photo exhibition on the five-decade-long Vietnam-Bangladesh diplomatic relations in Dhaka on September 21, as part of his official visit to the South Asian nation.

The exhibition, organized by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), displayed 20 large-format photographs carefully selected from the VNA’s archives. They showcase significant and prominent moments in the bilateral relationship, high-level reciprocal visits between Vietnamese and Bangladeshi leaders, and Vietnam’s landscape, people, and culture.

Among them, there are those capturing the events of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong receiving visiting Speaker of the Parliament of Bangladesh Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in Vietnam, and of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina witnessing the signing ceremony of agreement to establish the Bangladesh-Vietnam Business Council.

NA Secretary General holds working session with Bangladeshi counterpart

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (right) meets with President of Bangladesh Mohammed Shahabuddin in Dhaka. (Photo: VNA)

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue met with the President of Bangladesh Mohammed Shahabuddin in Dhaka on September 22, during which he said that the Vietnamese State and people will never forget the wholehearted support provided by Bangladesh over the past five decades.

Chairman Hue affirmed that Vietnam is ready to help Bangladesh ensure food security, as evidenced by the recent signing of the extension of the Memorandum of Understanding on rice trade for the 2022-2027 period. Apart from rice, Vietnam could export other products of Bangladesh’s interest, such as agricultural machinery, raw materials, household appliances, electronics, processed agricultural and aquatic products, and explore new areas of cooperation such as green textile and garment, education, sci-tech, especially climate change adaptation, he said.

Hailing Bangladesh as a promising market with a population of 170 million people, Hue announced a plan to hold a business forum with the participation of hundreds of enterprises from both sides, as part of his ongoing visit.

President Shahabuddin suggested Vietnam encourage firms to invest in Bangladesh’s economic zones. He also expressed support for Vietnam’s proposal to open direct flights to promote cultural, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. He also agreed with Hue’s suggestion to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese citizens to study, work, and do business in the South Asian country. Lauding the successful talks between Chairman Hue and Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, the host highly valued the role and contributions of the two legislatures to developing bilateral relations. He also highlighted the significance of the signing of cooperation documents between the two legislatures and their offices during the visit, which will lay a foundation to strengthen their cooperation.

On international and regional issues of shared concern, both leaders agreed to offer mutual support at multilateral forums such as the United Nations (UN), the ASEAN, and others. On the back of the traditional friendship between the two countries and Vietnam’s regard for Bangladesh’s position, Vietnam consistently supports Bangladesh in enhancing its relations with ASEAN, Hue said.

On the occasion, Hue conveyed President Vo Van Thuong’s invitation to President Shahabuddin to visit Vietnam. The leader accepted the invitation with pleasure.

NA Chairman meets with the Vietnamese community in Bangladesh

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue meets with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Bangladesh on September 22. (Photo: VNA)

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue met with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Bangladesh on September 22 within the framework of his official visit to the South Asian country.

In his speech, he said that the Party and State always consider overseas Vietnamese communities as an integral part of the Vietnamese people, he stressed, saying solidarity, persistence, as well as concerted efforts have helped them overcome challenges, and well integrate into the host nations. Hue expressed his hope that the Vietnamese nationals in Bangladesh will always turn their hearts to the homeland, work to consolidate the traditional friendship between the two nations, and pay due attention to building the community and cultural institutions towards bolstering exchanges with the Vietnamese people communities in other countries.

Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly received President of the Bangladesh-Vietnam Friendship Society

Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly received President of the Bangladesh-Vietnam Friendship Society (Photo: VNA)

Vuong Dinh Hue received President of the Bangladesh-Vietnam Friendship Society (BVFS) Shamsher M. Chowdhury in Dhaka on September 22 as part of the top legislator’s visit to Bangladesh.

Hue described the establishment of the BVFS in early 2023 as a milestone, helping to enhance understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries, as well as the bilateral relationship. The NA leader pledged that after the visit he will instruct the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) to coordinate with the BVFS in cooperation activities, and consider the formation of the Vietnam-Bangladesh friendship association. Hue also suggested the BVFS work harder to contribute to trade and investment promotion, helping Vietnamese and Bangladeshi businesses explore each other’s markets.

For his part, Chowdhury, who is also former Foreign Minister and former Ambassador of Bangladesh to Vietnam, stressed that Bangladesh was the first country in South Asia to recognise and establish diplomatic ties with the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam at the ambassador level. Vietnam is one of the countries that have played an important role in the Indo-Pacific, he said.

He emphasised that Hue’s official visit to Bangladesh will contribute to strengthening the bilateral political, diplomatic and economic ties, while fostering the friendship, cooperation and exchange between the people of the two countries. Chowdhury said the BVFS will propose the Bangladeshi government name a road in Dhaka after President Ho Chi Minh.