Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Cuong (R) greets Ugandan State Minister for Foreign Affairs Henry Oryem Okello in Hanoi on January 24 (Photo: vov.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Cuong had talks with Ugandan State Minister for Foreign Affairs Henry Oryem Okello in Hanoi on January 24, discussing measures to promote bilateral cooperation.
Cuong highly valued Okello’s official visit to Vietnam, saying that this is the first governmental-level delegation exchange between the two countries since they set up their diplomatic ties in 1973.
He thanked Uganda for supporting Vietnam’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021.
The Ugandan official said he is delighted to visit Vietnam and have a chance to learn more about Vietnam’s history, including its heroic fight for national independence. He affirmed that the struggle was a great source of inspiration for African countries, including Uganda, to fight for their independence.
He pledged Uganda will continue coordinating closely with Vietnam at international and regional organisations and multilateral forums, especially the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement and the South-South cooperation framework.
At the talks, the two sides informed each other about their respective countries’ situation and discussed several international and regional issues.
They looked into ways to enhance bilateral connections, focusing on some areas matching both sides’ strength and demand like politics-diplomacy, trade-investment, defence and agriculture.
As bilateral cooperation remains modest, the officials agreed to increase delegation exchanges at all levels and encourage mutual visits by Vietnamese and Ugandan parliamentarians and people-to-people exchange.
Deputy Minister Cuong said to help step up ties with Uganda, Vietnam assigned an honorary consul in the African nation in 2017. It hopes Uganda will also appoint an honorary consul or open a trade office in Vietnam so as to create more channels for connecting the two countries’ business circles.
The Ugandan State Minister for Foreign Affairs is paying an official visit to Vietnam from January 24 to 27. He is accompanied by State Minister for Defence Charles Okello Engola and Honorary Consul of Vietnam in the country King Ceasor.
During his stay, the Ugandan guest will pay a courtesy call to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and have working sessions with the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.-VNA
VNA
