President urges Vietnam to ease visa procedures for Bangladeshis

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has urged Vietnam to further ease its visa procedures for Bangladeshis.

The President made the request when outgoing Vietnamese Ambassador to Bangladesh Nguyen Manh Cuong paid a farewell courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban on Thursday, September 17.

The President said visa procedures need to be simplified to increase communication and expand partnership between businessmen, investors and the people of the two countries, in order to further strengthen existing relations and tap into development potential.

During the meeting, the ambassador emphasised establishing direct air connectivity between the two capitals, implementing a preferential trade agreement and exchanging high-level visits.

The ambassador invited the President to visit Vietnam on behalf of the Vietnamese President. The President thanked him for the invitation.

During the meeting, the President recalled the memories of the warm hospitality he received during his visit to Vietnam in 2003 as a member of then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia's delegation, and expressed hope for strengthening the historic friendship and bilateral relations between the peoples of the two countries.

The President said opportunities need to be created to increase Bangladesh's exports to make trade between the two countries more balanced and mutually beneficial.

The President urged Vietnam to increase imports of various exportable Bangladeshi products, including pharmaceuticals, leather and leather goods, ceramics, bicycles, and jute and jute products.

During the meeting, the Vietnamese ambassador congratulated President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on assuming office.

Thanking the outgoing ambassador for his successful tenure and contribution to developing Bangladesh-Vietnam relations, the President expressed hope that he would continue to play a role in strengthening friendship and cooperation between the two countries after returning home.

The President wished the Vietnamese ambassador good health and overall well-being, and wished the people of Vietnam continued peace, progress and prosperity.

Secretaries of the President's Office, senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnamese Embassy were present during the meeting.