Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing concludes Vietnam visit with defense, trade accords

September 7, 2026 at 07:36 AM2 min

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Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing concluded a three-day state visit to Vietnam on Sunday, agreeing with Vietnamese leaders to expand defense and security cooperation. The two sides also pledged to boost bilateral trade, which fell from $853 million in 2020 to $590 million in 2025. The visit is part of Myanmar's campaign to normalize relations with ASEAN.

Key Facts

Min Aung Hlaing and Vietnamese President To Lam agreed to expand cooperation in military training, officer exchanges, search-and-rescue, and disaster response.
Two-way trade between Myanmar and Vietnam fell from $853 million in 2020 to $590 million in 2025.
Min Aung Hlaing met with Vietnamese firms VinFast and Viettel during the visit.
Vietnam was the eighth country Min Aung Hlaing has visited since taking office in April, and the third ASEAN member state.

Defense and Security Cooperation

A key focus of the talks between Lam and Min Aung Hlaing was defense and security cooperation, which the two leaders elevated to a key pillar of bilateral ties. The two leaders agreed to expand cooperation in military training, exchanges between young officers, search-and-rescue operations, and disaster response, while stepping up information sharing and coordination against crimes. Both sides reaffirmed a commitment not to allow any individual or organization to use one country's territory for activities against the other.

Economic and Trade Agenda

Trade between the two nations has fallen in recent years as Myanmar has become engulfed in civil conflict, with two-way trade totaling $853 million in 2020 and $590 million in 2025. Speaking at the Myanmar-Viet Nam Business Forum in Hanoi, Min Aung Hlaing called for greater bilateral economic cooperation and increased Vietnamese investment in Myanmar. He said Myanmar was seeking to expand cooperation with Vietnam in telecommunications, technology, manufacturing, agriculture, energy, tourism, and human resources development.

Diplomatic Campaign

The former general arrived in Vietnam on Friday as part of a diplomatic campaign aimed at consolidating ties with regional governments and normalizing relations with ASEAN. Vietnam was the eighth country Min Aung Hlaing has visited since taking office in April, and the third ASEAN member state, with Cambodia to follow later this week.