<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday emphasised enhancing economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Vietnam for the mutual benefit of the two countries.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She made the observation while outgoing Ambassador of Vietnam Pham Viet Chien called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban, PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim told reporters.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He said during the meeting they expressed satisfaction the growing bilateral relations between the two countries.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hasina mentioned that Bangladesh and Vietnam have many common issues like victorious struggle for the liberation of their countries.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The people of the country admired the Vietnamese struggle for independence, the PM said adding, during their Liberation War against Pakistani military junta, people of Bangladesh used to chant slogans ‘Bangla will be Vietnam’.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Talking about the agricultural sector, she said that Bangladesh is a densely populated country and it has a huge population, so researchers have been engaged for boosting agro production.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The PM put emphasis on improving connectivity with South Asian countries.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She thanked the Vietnamese envoy for completing his tenure successfully.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She congratulated the Vietnamese envoy on the success of his country in the socioeconomic arena.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Viet Chien termed himself as the friend of Bangladesh.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He said apart from the Vietnam government the Vietnam Communist Party has relation with Bangladesh Awami League.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On behalf of Vietnamese leader the ambassador invited the prime minister to visit Vietnam to mark the 50 years of the diplomatic relation of the two countries.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He said that the trade between Bangladesh and Vietnam was USD 1.5 billion while Bangladesh’s export to Vietnam increased by 30 percent.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">PMO secretary Mohammad Salahuddin was present during the meeting. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>