Bangladesh, Vietnam eye FTA to boost economic relations
Bangladesh and Vietnam have agreed to explore possibilities of concluding a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) in order to add further substance to the steadily increasing bilateral trade and economic relations between the two regional countries, particularly in context of the LDC graduation of Bangladesh.
The issue was discussed at the second Foreign Office Consultations held between Bangladesh and Vietnam at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka on Sunday.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen led the Bangladesh delegation, while a nine-member Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Foreign Minister of Vietnam Hung Viet.
Highlighting the lucrative incentives and facilities offered by Bangladesh for the Foreign Direct Investment, the Foreign Secretary encouraged the Vietnamese business community and entrepreneurs to avail the opportunities, particularly in the Economic Zones of Bangladesh, for mutual benefit.
The two sides stressed the importance of maintaining the momentum through regular exchange of high-level visits and agreed to organise the Joint Trade Commission meeting in Dhaka this year, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Bangladesh also proposed formation of the Joint Commission at the Foreign Ministers' level for comprehensive cooperation.
Both sides stressed the importance of direct air links for facilitating trade, commerce and investment and for accelerating tourism and people-to-people contacts.
Both Dhaka and Hanoi agreed to explore the possibilities for initiating direct flights at the earliest.
Foreign Secretary Masud Momen requested Vietnam to play a more proactive role bilaterally and within the ASEAN framework for an expeditious repatriation of the Rohingya people from Bangladesh to their homeland in Myanmar.
He also sought an expeditious inclusion of Bangladesh as a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN.
The next Foreign Office Consultations will be held in Vietnam on a mutually convenient date, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.