VN-Myanmar Friendship Association convenes first congress

Hanoi, August 27 (VNA)- The first congress of the Vietnam-Myanmar Friendship Association (VMFA) in Hanoi on August 26 elected a 36-member executive board for the 2014-2015 tenure led by Chu Cong Phung, former Vietnamese Ambassador to Myanmar. Speaking at the event, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Vu Xuan Hong lauded the establishment of the VMFA, the 180 th member organisation of the union. He expressed his concurrence with the association’s orientations set for the tenure, saying that they are in line with the State’s foreign policy and relations between Vietnam and Myanmar. The Party and State attach special importance to boosting ties with Southeast Asian nations, including Myanmar , he said, affirming that the VMFA will serve as a bridge for promoting all-around links between the two countries, especially in politics, economy, culture, trade and tourism. Hong said he hopes that the VMFA and other friendship associations between Vietnam and ASEAN countries will work close together to enhance understanding between their people, thus contributing to building the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015. Myanmar Ambassador to Vietnam Zin Hlaing confirmed that his agency is willing to support the association in deploying its activities to bolster the friendship and cooperation between the two countries. According to VMFA President Phung, apart from pushing bilateral friendship exchanges, in the coming time, his association will also focus on promoting economic-trade and investment links between the two sides through assisting their businesses in seeking partners and developing markets.-VNA