PM seeks Vietnam’s support for solution to Rohingya crisis

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday sought Vietnam’s support for a peaceful solution to the Rohingya crisis as it put peace and stability of the region at stake.

“We’ve discussed the Rohingya crisis as it threatens peace and stability of our region. I sought Vietnam’s support for a peaceful solution to the problem,” she said.

The prime minister said this while speaking at a joint press statement after the bilateral talks with Vietnam President Tran Dai Quang at her office.  

Sheikh Hasina said President Dai Quang expressed his support for a viable and long-term solution to the problem. 

Hasina said she conveyed to the Vietnamese President that Bangladesh believes in maintaining peace, stability, and rule-based order in seas and oceans, including safety and freedoms of navigation and overflight, in accordance with international laws.

“We support the peaceful settlement of all the international disputes, including territorial and maritime disputes, in accordance with international laws, including the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” she said.

The Vietnamese President is now in Bangladesh on an official tour marking the 45th anniversary of the Bangladesh-Vietnam diplomatic ties.

Hasina said Vietnam is a close neighbour and the two countries share common aspirations to promote peace and development.

During our talks, she said, they have discussed the entire gamut of the bilateral relations in a warm and cordial atmosphere.  “We’ve identified new areas of cooperation. Besides cementing our political relations, the major focus of our discussion was to enhance trade, investment and technical cooperation.”

She mentioned both the leaders have agreed that the 2nd Foreign Office Consultation as well as the 2nd meeting of the Joint Committee on Trade will be held this year to steer bilateral cooperation initiatives.
 
The prime minister thanked President Tran Dai Quang for bringing in business delegation who would discuss with their counterparts in Bangladesh ways and means to boost trade and investment in both the countries. “We encourage entrepreneurs and businessmen of both Bangladesh and Vietnam to explore opportunities in our respective economies.”

She said Bangladesh government is keen to institutionalise political, trade and economic partnerships with Asean countries.

“On the other hand, as a Ganges basin country, Bangladesh also wants to join the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Forum. I’ve sought Vietnam’s support for Bangladesh to become ‘Sectoral Dialogue Partner’ of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and also for our aspiration to join the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation.”

Hasina said this visit of the Vietnamese President will go a long way in taking Bangladesh-Vietnam relations to newer heights.

Source: unb