United News of Bangladesh

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday urged Vietnam to simplify its visa procedures for Bangladeshi businesspeople, workers, students and tourists. The President made the call when Vietnamese Ambassador to Bangladesh Nguyen Manh Cuong paid a farewell courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban. President Fakhrul said Bangladesh attaches great importance to its longstanding friendship with Vietnam which has existed for more than five decades. He said simplifying visa procedures would help increase people-to-people contacts and expand opportunities for cooperation and partnership among businesses and investors of the two countries, contributing to further strengthening bilateral relations and tapping their development potential. The Vietnamese Ambassador stressed the importance of establishing direct air connectivity between the two capitals, implementing a preferential trade agreement and exchanging high-level visits. He also conveyed an invitation from the President of Vietnam to the President to visit Vietnam. The President thanked him for the invitation. Recalling his visit to Vietnam in 2003 as part of the entourage of then prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, President Fakhrul recalled the warm hospitality extended to him and expressed hope that the historical friendship between the peoples of the two countries would continue to strengthen bilateral relations. The President said opportunities should be created to increase Bangladesh’s exports to Vietnam to make bilateral trade more balanced and mutually beneficial. He urged Vietnam to increase imports of Bangladeshi pharmaceutical products, leather and leather goods, ceramics, bicycles, jute and jute products, among other exportable items. During the meeting, Ambassador Nguyen Manh Cuong congratulated President Mirza Fakhrul on assuming office. Thanking the outgoing Ambassador for his successful tenure and contributions to strengthening Bangladesh-Vietnam relations, the President expressed hope that he would continue to play a role in promoting friendship and cooperation between the two countries after returning home. The President wished the Ambassador good health and wellbeing and conveyed his wishes for continued peace, progress and prosperity for the people of Vietnam. Secretaries to the President’s Office and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnamese Embassy were present at the meeting.