President Truong Tan Sang has reiterated Vietnam’s foreign policy ofattaching special importance to relations with traditional friends,including Congo.

The President received Congolese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Basile Ikouebe in Hanoi on October 30.

He thanked the Congolese people for their support for Vietnamduring its past struggle for national independence as well as currentdevelopment.

Sharing the same view with MinisterBasile Ikouebe on the need of fostering bilateral ties, President Sangsuggested the two sides enhance cooperation in every aspect inpreparation for the visit to Vietnam by Congolese President DenisSassou N’guesso and the Vietnam-Congo Intergovernmental Committee’s 2 ndmeeting in 2014.

Vietnam is ready to cooperatewith Congo in the fields of information technology, health,education, oil and gas, he said, adding that the two nations need towork out specific projects to realise their commitments.

For his part, Basile Ikouebe extended his deep condolences to theVietnamese Party, State and people over the death of General Vo NguyenGiap, who is admired by the Congolese people.

As thetwo countries will celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomaticties in 2014, the minister said that his country wants to furtherstrengthen cooperation with Vietnam .

Vietnamand Congo boast their own strengths and this is a favourablecondition for them to boost cooperation, he noted, affirming that hisvisit is a step towards the celebration of bilateral diplomaticrelations.

Congo is actively working withVietnamese ministries and agencies to prepare for the Vietnam-CongoIntergovernmental Committee meeting, he added.

During its economic restructuring, Congo pays attention to Vietnam’s strengths such as mining, agriculture and aquaculture, and is willingto facilitate Vietnamese businesses’ investment in the country, hesaid.-VNA