The agreement was reached during talks in Hanoi on September 5 between General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam and Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing who is on an official visit to Vietnam. The talks were held following an official welcoming ceremony for the Myanmar President in Hanoi on the same day.

In a friendly and open atmosphere, the two leaders exchanged views on the situation in their respective countries and discussed major orientations for bilateral relations.

Party General Secretary and President To Lam congratulated Myanmar on the achievements it has made during the five months since the new government took office, commending its efforts to promote stability, reconciliation and dialogue, foster economic development, ensure security and safety, and improve people’s living standards.

President Min Aung Hlaing expressed his pleasure at making his first official visit to Vietnam as President of Myanmar. He congratulated Vietnam on its socio-economic development achievements and expressed his desire to learn from the country’s development experience.

The two leaders spoke highly of the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Myanmar and the comprehensive cooperation partnership established in 2017. They agreed to further strengthen political trust through increased exchanges of delegations and high-level contacts, as well as cooperation through Party, State, Government and legislative channels and people-to-people exchanges.

Creating better conditions for Vietnamese businesses

The two leaders noted that economic, trade and investment cooperation still has considerable room for expansion.

President Hlaing said Myanmar would pay attention to resolving difficulties and creating a favourable environment for Vietnamese businesses to invest and operate in the country on a long-term and stable basis.

The two sides agreed to encourage broader cooperation in high-tech agriculture, food processing, telecommunications and information technology, digital transformation, energy and transport infrastructure. They also highlighted the need to promote air connectivity and tourism cooperation.

Of particular note, President Hlaing said Myanmar is interested in developing digital government and the digital economy and upgrading its telecommunications infrastructure. He expressed his hope that Vietnamese businesses would step up cooperation with their Myanmar counterparts in areas where Vietnam has strengths and Myanmar has demand.

For his part, Party General Secretary and President To Lam affirmed that Vietnam is ready to share its experience in national development, economic security, sustainable growth, macroeconomic stability and policymaking, with a people-centred approach.

Digital transformation opens new avenues

Digital transformation emerged as one of the promising areas for deeper bilateral cooperation, alongside traditional fields such as agriculture, energy and infrastructure.

Myanmar’s interest in digital government, the digital economy and telecommunications infrastructure provides opportunities for Vietnamese companies with experience in telecommunications, information technology and digital solutions to expand cooperation with local partners.

The two sides also agreed to continue promoting defence and security cooperation, including training, exchanges between young officers, search and rescue operations, and disaster relief. They will strengthen information sharing and coordination in combating transnational crime, drug-related crime, human trafficking, high-tech crime and online scams.

The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment not to allowing any individual or organisation to use either country’s territory against the other.

Stronger coordination in ASEAN and the Mekong

On regional and international issues, the two leaders pledged to increase coordination at regional and international mechanisms, including ASEAN and Mekong subregional frameworks.

President Hlaing thanked Vietnam for its consistent support for Myanmar’s national development efforts, as well as its support for Myanmar within ASEAN and at regional and international forums.

The two sides underscored the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security and safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, and of resolving differences and disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Vietnam and Myanmar also agreed to enhance experience sharing in strategic areas of the Mekong subregion, including transport infrastructure connectivity among Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar and the sustainable management and use of water resources.

The two leaders said they would direct relevant agencies to closely coordinate to help Myanmar successfully assume the chairmanship of the 11th Ayeyawady – Chao Phraya – Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit to be held in Vietnam.

Concluding their talks, Party General Secretary and President To Lam and President Min Aung Hlaing agreed to direct ministries and agencies of the two countries to actively implement the understandings reached, bringing the Vietnam-Myanmar comprehensive cooperation partnership into a new phase of deeper, more substantive and effective development.

On the occasion, President Hlaing invited Party General Secretary and President To Lam and his spouse to visit Myanmar in 2027 to mark the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam-Myanmar comprehensive cooperation partnership.

Party General Secretary and President To Lam expressed his appreciation for the invitation and said the visit would be arranged through diplomatic channels at a mutually convenient time.