Myanmar President Concludes State Visit to Vietnam
Myanmar's military-appointed President Min Aung Hlaing concluded a three-day state visit to Vietnam, where leaders agreed to raise defense and security
Myanmar's military-appointed President Min Aung Hlaing concluded a three-day state visit to Vietnam yesterday. The visit was part of a diplomatic campaign to consolidate regional ties and normalize relations with ASEAN.
In Hanoi, Min Aung Hlaing met with top Vietnamese leaders, including President To Lam and Prime Minister Le Minh Hung. He also held meetings with major Vietnamese firms like the electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast and the military-run telecoms group Viettel, which operates the Myanmar telecom operator Mytel.
Defense and Security Raise
A key focus was defense and security cooperation. According to a Vietnamese government statement reported by Reuters, President To Lam and Min Aung Hlaing agreed to raise this area to a key pillar of bilateral ties. The two leaders specifically agreed to expand cooperation in military training, exchanges between young officers, and search-and-rescue operations. They also pledged to step up information sharing and coordination against crimes.
"Vietnam stands ready to share its experience in national development, ensuring economic security and build sustainable growth," President Lam was quoted as saying during the talks.
Economic and Trade Agenda
Economics and trade were high on the agenda. Bilateral trade has fallen sharply as Myanmar has been engulfed in civil conflict. Statistics cited by the Associated Press show a significant decline.
| Year | Two-Way Trade Volume |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $853 million |
| 2025 | $590 million |
Speaking at the Myanmar-Viet Nam Business Forum in Hanoi, Min Aung Hlaing called for greater bilateral economic cooperation and increased Vietnamese investment. The Global New Light of Myanmar reported that he said Myanmar was seeking to expand cooperation in telecommunications, technology, manufacturing, agriculture, energy, tourism, and human resources development.
Diplomatic Context and Commitments
Both sides reaffirmed a commitment not to allow any individual or organization to use one country's territory for activities against the other. This mirrors a similar arrangement Vietnam made with Thailand during a visit in May.
During their meeting, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung congratulated Min Aung Hlaing on achieving significant results in national governance. Vietnamese state media reported that Hung affirmed Vietnam's support for the Myanmar government in implementing measures to promote stability, reconciliation, dialogue, economic development, and improving people's lives.
Vietnam was the eighth country Min Aung Hlaing has visited since taking office in April and the third ASEAN member state. A visit to Cambodia is scheduled for later this week. His previous trips have included India, China, Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan, where he has consistently sought to consolidate diplomatic relationships and drum up foreign investment.
A top priority for the Myanmar leader, flagged in his April inauguration speech, is to normalize relations with ASEAN. The bloc has excluded Myanmar from its summits since late 2021 over its failure to implement the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus conflict resolution plan. Myanmar's government has rejected the Consensus while cultivating relations with the ASEAN member states most sympathetic to its reintegration.
