Hanoi (VNA) – Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc said he will instruct competent Vietnamese agencies tocoordinate with their Egyptian counterparts to accelerate the implementation ofcommitments reached by the two countries’ leaders, thus soon bringing thebilateral trade to 1 billion USD.

He told visiting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Hanoi onSeptember 7 that Vietnam always treasures the traditional friendship and mutuallybeneficial cooperation with Egypt.

The PMcalled on the two sides to step up their cooperation across fields, saying theyshould increase the exchange of goods of their strength such as tea, seafood,rice, cashew nuts, coffee, pepper, garments-textiles and rubber of Vietnam, andpetrochemical products, chemicals, cotton and processed food of Egypt.

Hesuggested Egypt soon approve the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement signed bythe two countries in 2006, create conditions for the Vietnam National Oil andGas Group (PetroVietnam) to seek investment opportunities and provide oil-relatedservices in Egypt.

Vietnamwishes to further its collaboration with Egypt in national defence,agriculture, culture, tourism, transport and education-training, the Governmentleader said.

Expressinghis thanks to the Egyptian Government for granting Arabic language scholarshipsto Vietnamese students, PM Phuc said these students have significantlycontributed to the bilateral ties.

He urgedthe two countries’ diplomatic agencies to coordinate with each other in organisingactivities to celebrate the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

The hostsuggested assigning competent agencies of Vietnam and Egypt to research PresidentHo Chi Minh’s activities in Egypt, considering it an invaluable asset thathelps tighten the bilateral relationship.

He thankedthe Egyptian Government and people for their support to Vietnam in evacuating Vietnameseguest workers from Libya in 2011 and 2014.

In reply,President el-Sisi said his visit aims to affirm that Egypt always placesimportance to the relationship with Vietnam in all fields.

He alsoused the occasion to invite PM Phuc to pay an official visit to Egypt.

[Photosಌ: Egyptian President pays 🍒first-ever State visit to Vietnam]

ThePresident informed the host about outcomes of his talks with President Tran DaiQuang, during which the two sides were unanimous in cooperation orientationsand signed agreements.

Egypt hopesto cooperate with Vietnam and learn from the country’s experience in socio-economicdevelopment, he said.

Egypthighly appreciates Vietnam’s experience, particularly in developing industrialparks, fishery and seafood processing, the President said, noting his wish thatthe two countries will join hands in these realms at both Government andbusiness levels.

Presidentel-Sisi said Egypt has about a 4,000 km Red Sea coastline and a market of 91million people, which, he considered a great opportunity for Vietnamesebusinesses to invest in the country.

Egypt alsoserves as a gateway for Vietnam to enter the African and Middle East markets,he said, adding that Egypt’s engagement in free trade agreements with Africa,Gulf States and Europe would make it easier for Vietnamese goods to accessthese markets, the President said.

He stressedthat Egypt wishes to balance trade with Vietnam and that Vietnamese enterpriseswill invest in his country’s industrial parks.

Ineducation, Egypt stands ready to provide scholarships for Vietnamese students,he said, voicing his hope for enhanced bilateral cooperation in tourism.-VNA