(VOVWORLD) - President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Sissoco Embaló and his wife will pay an official visit to Vietnam from September 5-8, at the invitation of Party General Secretary and President of To Lam and his wife. This is the first visit to Vietnam by a Guinea-Bissau President since the two countries established diplomatic relations 51 years ago in 1973.
 President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Sissoco Embaló (photo: VNA) |
Guinea-Bissau, covers an area of 36,000 square kilometers in western Africa and has a population of more than 2 million people. Vietnam and Guinea-Bissau established diplomatic relations on September 30, 1973.
Milestones in bilateral cooperation
Vietnam and Guinea-Bissau have developed a friendly relationship. Guinea-Bissau sent a delegation to the state funeral of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in July during Secretary of State for International Cooperation Nancy Raisa Cardoso’s visit to Vietnam.
At meetings with Vietnamese diplomatic officials, Cardoso affirmed that Guinea-Bissau considers Vietnam a priority partner in its foreign policy and is ready to expand practical and effective cooperation in all fields.
The two sides agreed to increase exchanges of delegations at all levels, especially visits by high-ranking leaders, coordinate with each other at international forums, and support each other in cooperation with regional organizations like the African Union (AU) and the Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
To create a breakthrough in economic and trade cooperation, the two sides agreed to enhance business connections, increase information sharing on cooperation opportunities, promote trading of cashews, textiles, and other staple agricultural products, and sign cooperation agreements on trade, agriculture, and seaports.
 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang (Photo: VNA) |
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang said Vietnam is ready to help Guinea-Bissau ensure food security through agriculture development projects .
Trade exchange is a hallmark of bilateral cooperation. Vietnam is Guinea-Bissau’s third largest export market and Guinea-Bissau is one of Africa’s five largest suppliers of raw cashew nuts to Vietnam. Last year, trade turnover between the two countries totaled 170 million USD.
The two countries have signed a number of cooperation documents, including an Agreement on cultural, economic, scientific, technical, and trade cooperation in 1994, and a Memorandum of Understanding on trade and industrial cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Guinea-Bissau Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Strengthening relations between Vietnam and West and Central Africa
The invitation of Party General Secretary and President To Lam and his wife to President of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Sissoco Embaló and his wife to pay an official visit to Vietnam upholds the external policy of the 13th National Party Congress and the Project on developing relations between Vietnam and Middle East and African countries in the 2016-2025 period. It affirms the consistent policy of the Party and State of Vietnam to attach importance to traditional friends in Africa, including Guinea-Bissau.
The first high-level visit by the President of Guinea-Bissau will create a foundation to promote cooperation in all fields.