1. Political relations:

As soon as it gained independence in 1971, Bangladesh followed with keen interest and supported Vietnam’s struggle against the U.S. The Government of Bangladesh condemned the U.S.’s bombing in the North of Vietnam. There was a strong nation-wide movement of the Bangladeshi people to support Vietnam’s fighting against the U.S. Bangladesh was the first country in South Asia and second one in Asia to recognize and establish diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level with Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam. On February 11, 1973, Vietnam and Bangladesh officially established diplomatic relations. The two sides started exchange of visits and economic and trade interaction. In July 1982, Vietnam closed its Embassy in Dhaka.

In recent years, there have been new and important political and economic progresses in the relations between Vietnam and Bangladesh. In November 1993, Bangladesh opened its Embassy in Ha Noi. Vietnam re-opened its Embassy in Dhaka in January 2003.

The two sides have exchanged a number of high-level visits over the years. 

a. Vietnamese leaders’ visits to Bangladesh:

Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet (1997), President Tran Duc Luong (2004), and Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Dy Nien (2003) visited Bangladesh.

b. Bangladeshi leaders’ visits to Vietnam:

Minister of Commerce (September 1996), Minister of Foreign Affairs (May 1999), Minister of Agriculture (October 2003), Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Cultural Affairs Selima Rahman (July 2004), and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia (May 2005) visited Vietnam.

Vietnam and Bangladesh maintain good cooperation at international fora namely United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement and ASEAN???. Bangladesh supported Vietnam’s candidature for non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council. Bangladesh has requested Vietnam to support its participation into ARF, MGC, ASEM and EWEC.

2. In the fields of Economics, Investment, Commerce, Science-Technology and Culture:

  - Vietnam-Bangladesh bilateral trade, though modest, is progressing positively with an average growth rate of 20% per year. Bilateral trade turnover was US$ 14 million in 2002 (Vietnam exported US$ 7 million and imported US$7 million), US$ 20 million in 2003 (Vietnam exported US$ 14 million and imported US$ 7 million), US$ 39 million in 2004 (Vietnam exported US$ 17.8 million and imported US$ 21.2 million), US$ 76 million in 2005 (Vietnam exported US$ 22 million and imported US$ 54 million). During Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s visit to Vietnam in May 2005, the two sides set a target of US$ 100 million of two-way trade by the year 2008. 

 - Vietnam’s main export items to Bangladesh are cloth, plastic products, products made from bamboo, sedge and rattan, rubber, computer, electrics, wood, pottery and porcelain. Vietnam’s main import items from Bangladesh are pharmaceuticals, garments, leather & textile materials, fabric, machinery equipment and tools, electrical spare parts and fertilizers.

 - The cooperation between the two countries in other fields is still at low level, mainly focusing on experience sharing in infrastructure development, small and medium enterprises, aquaculture and environment protection. The two sides are trying to upgrade cooperation in economic and commercial fields and others namely agriculture and fisheries, industry, handicraft, finance and banking, culture, training and education, tourism and health in pace with good political relation.

3. Bilateral cooperation mechanisms:

On March 10, 1997, Vietnam and Bangladesh signed an Agreement on Establishment of the Joint Commission for Economic, Trade, Cultural, Scientific and Technological Cooperation. The first meeting of the Joint Commission was held in Hanoi, Vietnam on February 6-7, 2006. Bangladesh Delegation was led by H.E.Mr M. Saifur Rahman, Minister for Finance and Planning, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

Vietnam and Bangladesh signed an MOU on political consultation between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs in 1994. In 2005, the two sides planned to hold the first political consultation meeting in Dhaka, which was then postponed indefinitely due to unstable security situation in Dhaka.

4. Bilateral Treaties and Agreements:

- Agreement on Aviation Transportation (1993)
- MOU on Political Consultation between two Foreign Offices (1994)
- Agreement on Economic and Scientific and Technological Cooperation (1994)
- Trade Agreement (1996)
- Culture Agreement (1997)
- Agreement on Establishment of the Joint Commission for Economic, Trade, Cultural, Scientific and Technological Cooperation (1997)
- Agreement on cooperation between Vietnam News Agency and National News Agency of Bangladesh (1997)
- MOU on cooperation between Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (1997)
- Agreement on cooperation in water resource development and flood management (1999)
- Agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders (1999)
- Agreement on double taxation avoidance (2004)
- Protocol on cooperation in agriculture (2004)
- Protocol on cultural exchange programm for 2004-2007 (2004)
- Agreement on Investment Promotion and Protection (May 2005)

(12/2007)