Friendship Association Bridging the Peoples of Vietnam and Myanmar
The Friendship Association is set to tighten Vietnam and Myanmar ties.
The Vietnam-Myanmar Friendship Association on Nov. 10 held the second congress for the 2021-2026 term in a ceremony in Hanoi via both in-person and online formats. Speaking at the congress, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) Nguyen Phuong Nga emphasized that in the coming time, the association should pay attention and focus on four points.
The newly-elected Executive Committee (Photo: TV)
During the course of the event, delegates discussed and approved a review of the association’s activities over the past 5 years, while outlining orientations for the 2021-2026 term. It also elected the Central Committee, the Standing Committee, the Inspection Committee and other key leadership positions.
In the past term, the association has carried out many practical activities to strengthen understanding and friendship between the two peoples. Some typical activities such as: organizing seminars, sharing information on Vietnam-Myanmar cooperation, thereby helping businesses gain insights into potentials and investment opportunities; connecting businesses of the two countries to learn about the business environment, find distributors.
The association has compiled and published two books "Myanmar: History and Present" and "Investment and Business Opportunities in Myanmar", helping Vietnamese readers and businesses to learn deeply about the country's history, people and society. The first book has been reprinted for the second time and update more the changing situation.
The movie Bridge over Cloud with the participation of Huyen My, first runner-up in Miss Vietnam 2014 pageant, has attracted the attention of a large number of young Myanmar people.
The film was produced by one of Myanmar’s leading media companies. My is paired in the love story with Nay Toe, who won a Myanmar Academy Award in 2009. It is an important contribution of the association to promoting cultural exchanges between the two countries. water.
The association also cooperated with the Myanmar-Vietnam Friendship Association to act as a bridge between Hong Bang University in Ho Chi Minh City and Yangon University of Foreign Languages to promote the opening of a Vietnamese language teaching center in Yangon.
In particular, in light of the complicated developments of the Covid-19 situation in Myanmar, in order to contribute to supporting the Myanmar people to overcome difficulties, in September 2020, the association had mobilized its members and businesses, individuals and Buddhists donated more than VND 540 million and medical supplies including 20,500 medical masks, 26,600 antibacterial fabric masks; 600 bottles of antibacterial hand gel and five antibacterial sprayers.
At the congress, the delegates also listened to comments on the working direction for the term 2021-2026.
In the next term, the Vietnam - Myanmar Friendship Association plans to continue strengthening cooperation with the Myanmar Embassy in Hanoi, the Vietnamese Embassy in Yangon, and the Myanmar - Vietnam Friendship Association to organise exchange activities, and effectively implement the MoU signed by the two associations.
It will also enhance linkages and cooperation with professional associations, religious, political, cultural and social organisations in order to foster economic cooperation and cultural, educational and medical exchange between the two countries.
President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) Nguyen Phuong Nga (Photo: TV)
Speaking at the Congress, Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, VUFO president, highly agreed with the direction and tasks of the association for the 2021-2026 term that the congress discussed and agreed upon.The delegates discussed and approved the association's Charter; elected 30 members of the Executive Committee; 10 members of the Standing Committee and three members of the Inspection Committee. Chu Cong Phung, former Ambassador of Vietnam to Myanmar, was re-elected as Chairman of the association for the term 2021-2026.
Second, enhance the relations, continue to organize seminars and talks so that members and businesses have conditions to access information about Myanmar's situation, and provide operational orientations in accordance with Myanmar's needs. In the context of the situation, overcome difficulties and challenges, take advantage of opportunities to conduct cooperation and investment in Myanmar, actively contributing to the socio-economic development of the two countries.
Third, with the advantages of having many members have practical activities in Myanmar such as former ambassadors, experts knowledgeable about Myanmar and the region, the association strengthens research on Myanmar, supports the VUFO and its member organizations actively participate in regional people's forums, contributing to strengthening solidarity and friendship with the people of countries in the region in general and Myanmar in particular, to build strong and prosperous ASEAN community, putting the lives of people at the centre.
Fourth, focus on organization building and development, continue to innovate methods and activities to attract the participation of young people, businesses and scholars of the two countries in the association's activities.
Nga also believes that the new Executive Board under the leadership of the President, Ambassador Chu Cong Phung will continue to do well in their tasks, leading the association to implement many practical and effective activities. , contributing to deepening the Vietnam-Myanmar friendship and cooperation.
The Presidium of VUFO also took the occasion to award the medal and certificates of merit to the Vietnam-Myanmar Friendship Association and individuals with outstanding achievements.
Photo: TV
The Vietnam – Myanmar relations have developed fruitfully in the past nearly 50 years. The establishment of comprehensive partnership between the two countries in 2017 opened up channels of dialogue and close cooperation at the ministerial level in foreign affairs, defense, security, and economy – trade.
Vietnam is now the 9th largest trade partner of Myanmar and the 7th biggest foreign investor in the Southeast Asian nation. Two-way trade reached USD 1.02 billion in 2019, and exceeded the set target for 2020. By the end of April 2021, Vietnam’s total licensed investment capital in Myanmar is USD 2.2 billion, including 11 projects, mainly in telecommunications, construction, and banking.
Source: Thoidai
