Vietnam, with its achievements in socio-economic development, is a role model for developing African countries and Guinea-Bissau in particular, Bissau-Guinean President Umaro Sissoco Embaló said during his talks with Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President To Lam in Hanoi on Friday. 

The talks came one day after President Embaló and his spouse arrived in Hanoi for a four-day official visit to Vietnam at Lam’s invitation, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

This is the first visit to the Southeast Asian country by a Bissau-Guinean president since the two nations established diplomatic ties 51 years ago, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Morocco and Guinea-Bissau Le Kim Quy.

Lam highly appreciated Embaló’s visit and commented that the visit will be a great success, contributing to creating new momentum for the relationship between the two nations.

Embaló affirmed Guinea-Bissau’s consistent policy to boost cooperation with Asian countries, in which his country considers Vietnam a top priority partner.

Expressing his admiration for Vietnam's revolutionary cause and national construction and development, the Bissau-Guinean leader appreciated Vietnam as an example for developing African countries. 

The two leaders reviewed the recent outcomes of the bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Guinea-Bissau and discussed directions to enhance the effectiveness of the multifaceted ties, especially in economics, trade and investment.  

Currently, Vietnam is Guinea-Bissau’s third-largest export market, while the latter has been one of the former’s top five African suppliers of raw cashew nuts for many years.

Last year, the two-way trade reached US$170 million, with Vietnam mainly exporting rice and textiles to Guinea-Bissau and importing raw cashew nuts from the West African country.

The two sides agreed to apply preferential policies to each other to promote the diversification of import and export products, and create conditions for businesses of both nations to seek cooperation and business opportunities in their markets.

They also pledged to expand potential cooperation in areas of Vietnam’s strengths and Guinea-Bissau’s needs, such as agriculture, by negotiating and signing cooperative agreements.

Embaló announced that Guinea-Bissau will exempt visas for holders of Vietnamese diplomatic and official passports.

Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, the two sides agreed to strengthen close coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, especially at the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the G77 Group.

Bissau-Guinean President Umaro Sissoco Embaló (L, 2nd) and Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President To Lam (L, 3rd) witness the signing of a MoU on a political and diplomatic consultation mechanism in Hanoi on September 6, 2024. Photo: VNA

Regarding the East Vietnam Sea issue, the two leaders attached importance to ensuring security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation in the waters, and advocated settlement of disputes through peaceful measures in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

On this occasion, Lam thanked Guinea-Bissau for sending a delegation to Vietnam to attend the funeral of late Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, who passed away on July 19 at the age of 80. 

Embaló invited Lam to soon pay an official visit to Guinea-Bissau and the Vietnamese leader happily accepted the invitation.

After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on a political and diplomatic consultation mechanism between the Vietnamese foreign ministry and the Bissau-Guinean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Community.

Another MoU that focused on agricultural cooperation was also signed between the two agriculture ministries.

Guinea-Bissau, a country that spans 36,000 square meters and boasts a population of two million people, established diplomatic ties with Vietnam on September 30, 1973.

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