Burma President Thein Sein arrived in Ha Noi yesterday for a two-day official visit. He was given a red-carpet welcome by his Vietnamese counterpart Truong Tan Sang.

This is Thein Sein's first visit since he was elected as Burma president in March last year. At the talks following the ceremony, Sang affirmed that Vietnam attached importance to cooperation with Burma.

He said the two countries' relations had long been fostered by generations of leaders. However, bilateral economic and trade ties had not matched their potential.

The two sides agreed to maintain high-level visits and exchange visits at all levels; organise regularly the existing cooperation mechanisms such as joint committees on bilateral cooperation and commercial and political consultation between the two foreign ministries; promote cooperation in the fields of economy, security and defence; and strive to increase the two countries' trade turnover to US$500 million by 2015.

The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern and committed to keep close cooperation at international forums such as the United Nations, the Asean community, the greater Mekong sub-region cooperation mechanisms and the East-West Economic Corridor.

The two leaders agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea, solving disputes peacefully, complying with international law, strictly implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and quickly finalising its code of conduct.

They stressed the need to ensure sustainable use of Mekong water resources for the sake of the sustainable development of the riparian countries.

Sang suggested the two sides review their policies and mechanisms towards facilitating cooperation between enterprises.

Thein Sein said Burma had great potential for cooperation in the tourism, forestry and banking development and would create favourable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to invest in these fields.

He also thanked Vietnam for its support for Burma's role of Chair of Asean in 2014.

Later in the day, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong met with Thein Sein.

During the meeting, he said the visit would take bilateral relations to a new height.

The two briefed each other on situations in each country and discussed ways to increase multifaceted cooperative relations.

The two sides also discussed strengthening cooperation between the two ruling parties and exchanging leadership experiences.

Meeting with Thein Sein, Prime Minister NguyenTan Dung affirmed that Vietnam always wished to strongly deepen cooperative relations with Burma for the practical benefit and mutual development of the two countries.

He asked Burma to maintain a mechanism of annual political consultation between the two foreign ministries, enhance cooperation in the sub-Mekong region and foster the implementation of signed cooperation agreements in the fields of agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, finance, telecommunications and energy.

In terms of regional issues, Dung affirmed that Vietnam supported Burma to hold the chair of the Asean in 2014 and was willing to cooperate with Burma at regional forums.

For his part, Thein Sein thanked Vietnam for its care, goodwill and support. He expressed his wish to further cooperate with Vietnam in industry, agriculture, tourism, infrastructure development, health care and national defence, and affirmed that Burma would create favourable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to invest in Burma.