Vietnam and Sierra Leone inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in agriculture in Hanoi on July 27.

Signatorieswere Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen ThiXuan Thu and Sierra Leone Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestryand Food Security Ali Mansaray.

Under the MoU, thetwo sides will boost cooperation in fisheries and rice production andVietnam will send experts to Sierra Leone to conduct surveys andprovide proposals for practical projects.

On July 25, Deputy Minister Thu and visiting Sierra Leone Deputy Minister Ali Mansaray held talks.

TheSierra Leone official said that his country considered Vietnam asa top partner in agricultural cooperation and would create favourableconditions for Vietnamese experts and skilled workers to the country.

Accordingto Deputy Minister Thu, Vietnam sent agricultural experts to helpdevelop rice research centres in Sierra Leone and will send moreexperts to the country in August to lay the groundwork for building acooperative programme on rice and seafood production between the twocountries.

While in Vietnam , the Sierra Leonedelegation will visit an aquaculture establishment, the Van DienPhosphate Plant and the Agriculture and Irrigation Electro MechanicsCorporation./.