Presidents of Vietnam, Ethiopia hold talks

• Grand ceremony marks President Ton Duc Thang’s 130th birthday
• President Tran Dai Quang to visit Ethiopia, Egypt
• President highlights role of overseas Vietnamese scientists

Presidents Tran Dai Quang and Mulatu Teshome in Addis Ababa on August 23

The host said President Quang is the first head of State of Vietnam to visit Ethiopia since the two countries set up diplomatic ties in 1976. He expressed his belief that the visit will create a new momentum for bilateral relations in the time ahead.

President Quang congratulated Ethiopia on its impressive strides which have turned the country into an example of economic development in Africa with an average growth rate of 10 percent over the past decade, considerably improving its people’s living standards and opening up many prospects for cooperation with various countries around the world, including Vietnam.

He highly valued Ethiopia’s role and active contributions as a member of the African Union and the United Nations, including peacekeeping activities, to help ensure security and stability in the region and the world over.

President Teshome said the Ethiopian people and himself always admire the Vietnamese people for the latter’s struggle for national independence in the past and development achievements at present.

He noted that he is impressed with Vietnam’s becoming an economy with fast and stable economic growth and a leading exporter of agricultural products in the world. He hopes the Southeast Asian nation will share experience in economic development, especially in the fields it is experienced in like agriculture and aquaculture.

The two sides said Vietnam and Ethiopia have a fine traditional friendship – an important basis for promoting economic, trade and investment ties. They agreed to provide favourable conditions for the countries’ enterprises to invest and do business in each other’s markets, specify suitable payment measures to support businesses, and increase market survey and share policy information. They will also consider appointing honorary consuls to create more connection channels and tap into economic partnership opportunities in a timely manner.

The Presidents agreed to step up delegation exchanges at all levels, cooperation between the two countries’ parliaments and localities, as well as people-to-people, cultural and sports exchanges to boost mutual understanding.

On this occasion, President Quang invited his counterpart to visit Vietnam. The host accepted the invitation with pleasure.

At the end of the talks, the leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation documents, including a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on investment cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ethiopian Investment Commission, an agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders and an MoU on cooperation between the two ministries of foreign affairs.

Subsequently, the two Presidents held a press meeting to announce the talks’ outcomes.

The Vietnamese leader voiced his belief that his visit will be an important milestone in bringing bilateral cooperation to a new stage and in line with the sound traditional friendship.

The Presidents told the media that they discussed all aspects of cooperation and reached high consensus on measures to enhance political tied and expand connections in economy, agriculture, telecommunications, aviation, culture and tourism. They considered economic partnership as the foundation for developing bilateral cooperation in a substantive fashion.

Vietnam and Ethiopia are determined to continue supporting each other to reach development targets for the sake of common progress and prosperity in Asia and Africa. They will also maintain mutual support within the framework of the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the South-South Cooperation, President Quang said.

He added the countries also share the view on the need to peacefully solve disputes and comply with international law.

The Vietnamese leader also noted that with the countries’ resolve to raise bilateral trade, Vietnam can export agricultural products, tea, coffee, rubber, electronic products, building materials and vehicles to Ethiopia, and share experience and cooperate with the African nation in rice production and export. He also pledged to facilitate the two business communities’ promotion of trade and investment, participation in fairs, and information exchange.

For his part, President Teshome said to bolster mutual understanding, the two countries should strengthen political trust at a high level and connections at all levels. He also emphasised the importance of peace and security for the prosperity of all nations.

Ethiopia and Vietnam boast huge cooperation potential in various spheres, particularly trade, investment, food processing and infrastructure development, he said, affirming that his country is ready to create the best conditions for Vietnamese firms to access its market to seek investment and business chances. It is also willing to intensify collaboration in education, agriculture and aviation.

The leaders agreed to consider opening a direct air route to facilitate travel, exchange and trade between the two countries.

Later the same day, President Teshome and his wife hosted a banquet in honour of President Quang, his wife and the Vietnamese delegation.