Viet Nam always treasures friendship and cooperation with Côte d'Ivoire: Prime Minister

The Prime Minister asserted that Viet Nam always attaches importance to fostering friendship and cooperation with Côte d'Ivoire, considering Côte d'Ivoire as one of most crucial partners of Viet Nam in Africa. 

Viet Nam stands ready to support Côte d'Ivoire to strengthen relations with ASEAN, Pham noted, suggesting both sides work to ensure trade balance, diversify export items and expand collaboration in other potential areas. 

Adama Bictogo, for his part, spoke highly of Viet Nam's role in the region and the world, particularly within the frameworks of ASEAN and the UN. 

Côte d'Ivoire regards Viet Nam as one of its important partners in ASEAN and is hopeful to step up multi-faceted cooperation with Viet Nam, he reiterated, adding that Côte d'Ivoire commits to promoting Viet Nam-Africa cooperation within the framework of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). 

He expected to boost cooperation in agriculture with Viet Nam to contribute to guaranteeing sustainable food security for Côte d'Ivoire, expressing the willingness to foster coordination with Viet Nam in fields of education-training, health and people-to-people links. 

Both leaders hailed the achievements in the bilateral trade value which exceeded US$1 billion in 2021 that made Côte d'Ivoire the second biggest trade partner of Viet Nam in Africa. 

They emphasized the importance of enhancing high-level exchanges to create a solid foundation for strengthening collaboration across all sectors, especially economics, striving to raise the two-way trade turnover and expand the market. 

They vowed to consolidate legal frameworks for economic cooperation via signing cooperation frame agreements on trade, investment promotion and protection and double taxation avoidance.

Both sides pledged to continue mutual support at multi-lateral forums, especially the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement, voicing their support for settling disputes, including issues relevant to the East Sea, via peaceful means in line with international law. 

Earlier the same day, Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue held talks with President of Côte d'Ivoire's National Assembly Adama Bictogo.

This is the highest-level delegation and Bictogo is the first President of the Côte d'Ivoire parliament to visit Viet Nam over the last 48 years.

The guest proposed the two legislatures play a driving role in further leveraging advantages in various areas, including agriculture. 

Bictogo called for Viet Nam's assistance in vocational training for Côte d'Ivoire young people, particularly in information technology, mechanical engineering and electronics. 

For his part, Vuong affirmed that Viet Nam is ready to act as a bridge for Côte d'Ivoire's goods to enter the ASEAN and Asian markets, work closely with the African country to enhance the import of cashew nuts, cotton and cocoa.

Côte d'Ivoire should expand the range of products imported from Viet Nam, like seafood, fertilizers, apparel, footwear, household appliances, construction materials, electronics and machinery, he said.

He urged Côte d'Ivoire to promptly respond to the draft Memorandum of Understanding on economic and trade cooperation and designate responsible authorities for the bilateral trade agreement with Viet Nam. 

He also asked for active negotiations toward the signing of cooperation documents, thus creating a legal framework for economic, trade and investment activities.

The two legislatures should continue upholding close coordination mechanisms at multilateral forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF), the Vietnamese top legislator recommended.

Following the talks, the two leaders signed a MoU on cooperation between the two NAs and met the press to inform the outcomes of their talks./.