Vietnamese State President Tran Dai Quang and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah Al Sisi have agreed to further promote the two countries’ bilateral traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation.

The two leaders joined talks on Monday within the framework of President Quang’s ongoing state visit to Egypt from August 25 to 29, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

During their conversation, the two leaders briefed each other on the current situation in each country, showing their pleasure at the progress of bilateral relations in recent years.

In the first half of 2018, two-way trade reached US$230 million, a surge of 44.5 percent year-on-year, they noted.

The two nations also mark their 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year.

Both leaders cosented to increase delegation exchanges and collaboration in security and defense, economic matters, trade, investment, culture, sports, tourism, agriculture, and transportation, aiming at raising bilateral trade to $1 billion in the next five years.

President Quang praised the achievements that Egypt has gained over the past few years under the leadership of President Sisi, positioning Egypt as one of the leading economies in Africa.

He proposed that Vietnam and Egypt maintain regular meetings between senior leaders and delegation exchanges among ministries, sectors, and localities.

Both nations should also strengthen cooperation at multilateral forums, especially within the framework of the United Nations, South-South Cooperation, Non-Aligned Movement, and the Francophone.

The Vietnamese head of state suggested that Egypt, as a member of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, act as a bridge for countries in the region, including Vietnam, to get closer to the African Union and its members.

The Arabian country should remove trade barriers and create favorable conditions for Vietnamese goods, especially farm produce, aquatic products, and construction materials, to access its market, Quang asked.

He urged both parties to focus on finalizing legal procedures to approve the Double-Taxation Avoidance Agreement signed in March 2006.

After the talk, the presidents witnessed the signing of multiple important cooperation deals between ministries, sectors, localities, and enterprises of the two countries.

President Sisi also hosted a banquet for his Vietnamese guest later the same day.

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