President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has urged Vietnam to simplify its visa process for Bangladeshi businesspeople, workers, students and tourists.

The president made the call when Vietnamese Ambassador to Bangladesh Nguyen Manh Cuong paid a farewell call on him at Bangabhaban on Thursday.

The president said Bangladesh attaches great importance to its friendly ties with Vietnam, which have existed for more than five decades.

He said easing visa procedures would help increase people-to-people contacts and expand partnerships between businesses and investors of the two countries, strengthening bilateral relations and unlocking development opportunities.

During the meeting, the ambassador stressed the importance of establishing direct air connectivity between the two capitals, implementing a preferential trade agreement and exchanging high-level visits. He also conveyed an invitation from the Vietnamese president for Mirza Fakhrul to visit Vietnam.

The president thanked him for the invitation and recalled his visit to Vietnam in 2003 as part of then-prime minister Khaleda Zia’s entourage.

He expressed hope that the historic friendship between the two peoples would continue to strengthen bilateral relations.

The president also called for greater opportunities to increase Bangladesh’s exports to Vietnam to make bilateral trade more balanced and mutually beneficial.

He urged Vietnam to increase imports of Bangladeshi products, including pharmaceuticals, leather and leather goods, ceramics, bicycles, jute and jute products.

The ambassador congratulated Mirza Fakhrul on assuming office.

Thanking the outgoing ambassador for his successful tenure and contribution to 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.

Senior officials from the President’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnamese Embassy were present.