Ties with African countries have in recent years become an importantcomponent of Vietnam’s foreign policy, Deputy Prime Minister Pham GiaKhiem said when opening the Vietnam-Africa International Seminar inHanoi on August 17.
Khiem, who is also Foreign Minister, noted that Vietnam is eager to share information and experience with African countries.
Vietnamwants to work together African countries in defining advantages andchallenges as well as specific measures to boost their multi-dimensionalcooperation, especially in the areas of their strength, such asagriculture, energy, infrastructure and others, the host said.
Addressingthe event themed, “Vietnam-Africa: Cooperation for sustainabledevelopment”, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung reckoned that since itsinception in 2003, the seminar has become a dialogue mechanism, animportant and practical forum, and an effective bridge allowing Vietnamand African countries to cooperate closely in many fields.
Heexpressed his satisfaction at the visible development of wide-rangingcooperation between Vietnam and Africa, describing the deployment ofmany agreements as creating a firm foundation for Vietnam and Africato advance their ties further in the future.
The PM urgedparticipants to focus on discussing ways and means to further theVietnam-Africa friendship and traditional cooperation in all fields, andincrease Vietnam’s presence in Africa and vice versa.
He askedparticipants to look for measures to expand economic ties, trade andinvestment, promote information dissemination and sharing of informationand experience in national construction and development, povertyreduction and the implementation of Millennium Development Goals.
Theyshould screen and strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperationmechanisms and encourage businesses, organisation and economic sectorsto become involved in these mechanisms to make them dynamic andeffective, the PM said.
The seminar saw the participation of 53international delegations representing African countries, internationalorganisations and countries which have carried out multilateralcooperation projects with Vietnam and Africa alongside officials fromrelevant ministries and sectors of Vietnam.
UN Vice-GeneralSecretary and Special Adviser on Africa Cheick Sidi Diarra praised thegrowing cooperation between Vietnam and Africa and underscored thesignificance of this seminar to worldwide endeavours to fulfill theMillennium Development Goals.
Since the seminar was first held in2003, Vietnam and Africa have witnessed a strengthening of theirpolitical and diplomatic ties. Trade surged from 360 million USD in 2003to 2.07 billion USD in 2009 and agricultural, energy, labour,healthcare and expertise cooperation developed markedly.
Vietnamhas signed 70 cooperative documents with Africa to provide a legalframework favourable for growing relations between two sides.
Followingthe opening ceremony, the participants attended two theme sessions onfood security, agricultural cooperation and poverty reduction, and oncooperation in trade, energy and investment./.
Khiem, who is also Foreign Minister, noted that Vietnam is eager to share information and experience with African countries.
Vietnamwants to work together African countries in defining advantages andchallenges as well as specific measures to boost their multi-dimensionalcooperation, especially in the areas of their strength, such asagriculture, energy, infrastructure and others, the host said.
Addressingthe event themed, “Vietnam-Africa: Cooperation for sustainabledevelopment”, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung reckoned that since itsinception in 2003, the seminar has become a dialogue mechanism, animportant and practical forum, and an effective bridge allowing Vietnamand African countries to cooperate closely in many fields.
Heexpressed his satisfaction at the visible development of wide-rangingcooperation between Vietnam and Africa, describing the deployment ofmany agreements as creating a firm foundation for Vietnam and Africato advance their ties further in the future.
The PM urgedparticipants to focus on discussing ways and means to further theVietnam-Africa friendship and traditional cooperation in all fields, andincrease Vietnam’s presence in Africa and vice versa.
He askedparticipants to look for measures to expand economic ties, trade andinvestment, promote information dissemination and sharing of informationand experience in national construction and development, povertyreduction and the implementation of Millennium Development Goals.
Theyshould screen and strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperationmechanisms and encourage businesses, organisation and economic sectorsto become involved in these mechanisms to make them dynamic andeffective, the PM said.
The seminar saw the participation of 53international delegations representing African countries, internationalorganisations and countries which have carried out multilateralcooperation projects with Vietnam and Africa alongside officials fromrelevant ministries and sectors of Vietnam.
UN Vice-GeneralSecretary and Special Adviser on Africa Cheick Sidi Diarra praised thegrowing cooperation between Vietnam and Africa and underscored thesignificance of this seminar to worldwide endeavours to fulfill theMillennium Development Goals.
Since the seminar was first held in2003, Vietnam and Africa have witnessed a strengthening of theirpolitical and diplomatic ties. Trade surged from 360 million USD in 2003to 2.07 billion USD in 2009 and agricultural, energy, labour,healthcare and expertise cooperation developed markedly.
Vietnamhas signed 70 cooperative documents with Africa to provide a legalframework favourable for growing relations between two sides.
Followingthe opening ceremony, the participants attended two theme sessions onfood security, agricultural cooperation and poverty reduction, and oncooperation in trade, energy and investment./.
