President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called on Vietnam to simplify visa procedures for Bangladeshi citizens and create greater opportunities for Bangladeshi products in the Vietnamese market, as Dhaka seeks to deepen ties with the Southeast Asian country.
The President made the call during a farewell meeting with outgoing Vietnamese Ambassador to Bangladesh Nguyen Manh Cuong at Bangabhaban on Thursday morning.
He said easier visa procedures for Bangladeshi businesspeople, workers, students and tourists would help increase people-to-people contacts and open up new avenues for bilateral cooperation.
“Bangladesh and Vietnam have maintained friendly relations for more than five decades,” the President said, stressing the need to make greater use of the two countries’ development potential by facilitating travel and expanding partnerships among businesses, investors and the people of both countries.
The meeting came at a time when Bangladesh and Vietnam are looking to expand their economic engagement beyond traditional areas of cooperation.
During the meeting, Ambassador Nguyen Manh Cuong proposed establishing direct air connectivity between Bangladesh and Vietnam, concluding a preferential trade agreement and increasing exchanges of high-level visits.
Direct air links, in particular, could facilitate business, tourism, education and other forms of people-to-people contact between the two countries.
The President also placed strong emphasis on expanding Bangladesh’s exports to Vietnam.
He urged the Vietnamese side to increase imports of Bangladeshi products, particularly pharmaceuticals, leather and leather goods, ceramics, bicycles, jute and jute products.
Greater access for these products, he said, would help Bangladesh expand its presence in the Vietnamese market and contribute to making bilateral trade more balanced and mutually beneficial.
Recalling his visit to Vietnam in 2003 as a member of the entourage of then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, President Mirza Fakhrul said he hoped the historic friendship between the two peoples would continue to grow.
He also expressed optimism that bilateral relations would be further strengthened through increased connectivity, commercial engagement and exchanges between the peoples of the two countries.
Ambassador Nguyen Manh Cuong, meanwhile, congratulated Mirza Fakhrul on assuming the presidency and conveyed an invitation from the President of Vietnam for him to visit the country.
The Bangladeshi President thanked his Vietnamese counterpart for the invitation.
The discussions reflected a shared interest in giving greater economic and practical dimensions to the longstanding Bangladesh-Vietnam relationship.
For Bangladesh, improved access to the Vietnamese market could create additional opportunities for exporters, particularly in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, leather, ceramics and jute. For Vietnam, stronger connectivity and increased bilateral exchanges could expand opportunities for trade, investment, tourism and other forms of cooperation.
At the meeting, President Mirza Fakhrul thanked Ambassador Nguyen Manh Cuong for his contributions to the development of Bangladesh-Vietnam relations during his tenure.
He wished the outgoing envoy good health and well-being and peace, progress and prosperity for the people of Vietnam.
President’s Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam briefed reporters about the meeting.
Secretaries to the President, senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and officials of the Vietnamese Embassy were present.