Hanoi (VNA) –Vietnam attaches special importance to its traditional cooperation and friendshipwith Mozambique and views the latter as one of the five African countries withwhich it prioritises political - diplomatic and economic ties, said NationalAssembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

The NA leader made the remarkat his talks with the President of the Mozambican Assembly, Esperanca Laurinda Francisco Nhiuane Bias,following an official welcome ceremony in Hanoi on June 20.

Welcominghis guest, Hue said Party and State leaders of Vietnam highly valued thepolitical significance of the first official visit by a President of theMozambican Assembly.

Bias thankedVietnam for its assistance and support for her country throughout history,including its vote for Mozambique to become a non-permanent member of the UNSecurity Council for the 2023 - 2024 tenure.

She notedthe two countries have signed many cooperation agreements on such fields as healthcare, education, and agriculture. A number of Vietnamese enterprises are alsoengaging in the telecommunications and agricultural sectors of Mozambique.

During thevisit, the parliamentary delegation of Mozambique would meet Vietnamese firmsto discuss investment and business opportunities in the African country andalso share experience in natural disaster response, Bias added.

Highlightingthe two countries’ long-standing relations, Hue recommended that tofurther strengthen bilateral ties, both sides should increase all-level mutualvisits, especially those at high levels, between their Parties, Governments,parliaments, ministries, sectors, localities, and businesses.

He applaudedand asked for the continued close coordination and mutual support for eachother’s candidacy for membership in international organisations, particularlythe United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, and within the ASEAN - African Unioncooperation.

Vietnam andMozambique should step up partnerships on the basis of bilateral cooperation agreements,with a focus on fighting terrorism and crimes (especially wildlife product trafficking),the host leader noted, asking the African nation to help guarantee security andsafety for the Vietnamese community there.

He sharedhis guest's view that bilateral trade links remain modest as the revenue stood atonly 157 million USD in 2020 and 149.5 million USD in 2021.

To fostereconomic, trade, and investment ties, Hue called on both countries to create optimalconditions for businesses to survey markets and take part in specialised exhibitionsand international trade fairs held in each country.

They alsoneed to actively share trade and investment information, as well as regulationson export and import through ministries, trade promotion agencies, federationsof commerce and industry, and business associations, according to the Chairman.

Hue thankedMozambique for providing favourable conditions for medical and educationalexperts of Vietnam to work in Mozambique, affirming that Vietnam is ready to continue grantingscholarships to Mozambican students, enhance cooperation and share experiencein developing public health care, traditional medicine, and epidemic combat.

During thetalks, the top legislator of Vietnam underlined the increasing importance of parliamentarycooperation to the relations among countries around the world. He pledged to make efforts to develop the ties between the two legislatures in an increasingly practical manner.

The twoleaders affirmed that they attach importance to the legislative bodies’cooperation, expressing their delight that a cooperation memorandum between thetwo parliaments would be signed during this visit.

Echoing the host’s view, Bias said to turn the two parliaments’ cooperation into one of the important pillars of Vietnam - Mozambique relations, the cooperationmemorandum is an important legal basis for them to expand ties in the timeahead.

Following thetalks, Hue and Bias signed thecooperation memorandum between the two parliaments.

As part ofher official visit, the Mozambican leader and parliamentary delegation paidtribute to President Ho Chi Minh at the late Vietnamese leader’s mausoleum inHanoi.

Also on June20, Bias visited the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA), where she expressed her wish to strengthen cooperatives ties with the HCMA and expected that the academy would make recommendations to help Mozambique to further stabilise and develop./.