VIETNAM, September 23 - DHAKA – National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ met with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Bangladesh on September 22 within the framework of his official visit to the South Asian country.

The top legislator said this is the first visit by a Vietnamese NA Chairman to Bangladesh, and described it as a significant activity when the two nations are celebrating the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations.

He reviewed the Việt Nam – Bangladesh relations, and briefed the overseas Vietnamese on the outcomes of his talks with the Speaker of the Bangladeshi Parliament, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, during which the first-ever cooperation deal between the two legislative bodies was signed in the past five decades.

Leaders of both countries affirmed efforts to increase two-way trade from US$1.5 billion to $2 billion, and to a higher level in the coming years, he said, adding they expected that a direct air route between the two nations would be opened soon, helping promote economic, trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people exchange activities so as to bring benefits to both sides.

Briefing Vietnamese nationals in Bangladesh of the home country’s socio-economic situation with robust results as well as vibrant foreign affairs, Huệ highlighted the new visa policy, which took effect from August 15 with the duration of an electronic visa increasing from 30 to 90 days for single or multiple entries, would create favourable conditions for the tourism sector.

Việt Nam is envisaged to become a developing country with modern industry and upper-middle income by 2030, and a developed, high-income nation by 2045 under the Resolution adopted at the 13th National Party Congress.

To achieve the mighty aspiration, he said Việt Nam should seize every opportunity, including promoting the economic diplomacy’s role, enhancing internal strength, and capitalising on external resources.

The Party and State always considered overseas Vietnamese communities as an integral part of the Vietnamese people, he stressed, saying solidarity, persistence, as well as concerted efforts had helped them overcome challenges, and well integrate into the host nations.

Huệ expressed his hope that the Vietnamese nationals in Bangladesh would always turn their hearts to the homeland, work to consolidate the traditional friendship between the two nations, and pay due attention to building the community and cultural institutions towards bolstering exchanges with the Vietnamese people communities in other countries. VNA/VNS