Myanmar’s leader, Min Aung Hlaing, arrived in Vietnam on Friday for a three-day official visit that includes meetings with executives from major telecommunications, defence and automobile companies.
The visit is his seventh overseas trip as he seeks to strengthen Myanmar’s regional ties and gain greater international acceptance following the 2021 military coup.
Myanmar has faced growing diplomatic isolation since the takeover, with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations excluding the country’s political representatives from major summits over the military government’s failure to make progress on the bloc’s peace initiative.
During the first day of his visit, Min Aung Hlaing is expected to hold talks with senior officials of Viettel, a Vietnamese telecommunications and defence company operated by the country’s defence ministry.
Viettel already provides telecommunications services in Myanmar, while its defence division develops drones and other military equipment. Discussions could therefore focus on the company’s existing operations as well as potential areas of defence cooperation.
Representatives of Myanmar’s embassy in Vietnam, Viettel and the Vietnamese government had not immediately commented on the expected meetings.
Min Aung Hlaing is also expected to visit a VinFast electric vehicle manufacturing facility in northern Vietnam. The Vietnamese automaker has been expanding across Asia and has established assembly operations in countries including Indonesia and India.
Vietnam’s ambassador to Myanmar, Nguyen Anh Duc, said ahead of the visit that the two countries should expand political and economic cooperation.
He identified telecommunications, electric vehicle production, agriculture and essential consumer products as areas with potential for stronger bilateral ties.
Myanmar state media reported that Min Aung Hlaing will meet Vietnam’s top leader, To Lam, and participate in a business forum during the visit.
The two countries are also expected to conclude several non-binding cooperation agreements, including arrangements aimed at combating crime and promoting investment.
Goodness Anunobi
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