Pretoria (VNA) – The upcoming visit to Vietnam by Mozambican President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi is expected to open new frameworks for cooperation, as well as provide momentum for the more effective and robust implementation of existing frameworks between the two countries, Vietnamese Ambassador to Mozambique Pham Hoang Kim has said.
In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the September 8-10 visit, he said the trip holds great significance, marking the positive developments in the bilateral relationship over the past years.
He noted that it takes place in the context that Vietnam and Mozambique will celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year. The visit aims to strengthen traditional areas of cooperation while expanding into new areas such as telecommunications, energy and minerals, fisheries, and digital transformation.
During the visit, President Nyusi is expected to meet and hold discussions with Vietnam's top leaders, visiting several businesses, educational and cultural establishments and historical sites. The two sides are also anticipated to sign several important cooperation documents in areas of their strength and demand.
Vietnam and Mozambique established diplomatic relations on June 25, 1975. In recent years, the exchange of delegations between the two countries as well as as cooperation mechanisms such as the Intergovernmental Committee and political consultation have been maintained, laying the foundation for promoting comprehensive cooperation. Both sides have actively coordinated and supported each other at multilateral forums.
Regarding trade and investment, Vietnam raked in 127 million USD from exports to Mozambique last year, with main items being fertilisers, garments, and farming equipment. Imports from Mozambique totalled nearly 420 million USD, with key products being coal and cashew nuts.
Vietnamese businesses' investment in Mozambique is a bright spot in economic cooperation between the two nations, notably the success of Movitel - a joint venture between Vietnam’s Viettel Group and Mozambique’s SPI company - that was established in 2012 with an investment of over 600 million USD. It is now one of the top three contributors to Mozambique's national budget, providing diverse telecommunications and IT services.
In addition, the two countries successfully implemented several agricultural projects, notably the first phase of a project on cooperation in research and development of food crops in Mozambique during 2013-2017, with potential for a second phase in the time to come.
Vietnam has sent numerous healthcare, education, and agricultural experts to work in Mozambique under existing cooperation agreements. Both countries have also provided scholarships to each other's citizens for specialised training courses and skill enhancement programmes.
Regarding party-to-party cooperation, Mozambique's ruling party, the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO), was one of the first political parties to establish relations with the Communist Party of Vietnam, about in the 1960s. Over the years, the two parties have continuously fostered their traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation based on their cooperation agreement signed in 1983.
The relationship between the two parties has developed positively, contributing to strengthening political trust and creating a crucial foundation for promoting all-round cooperation between the two countries, Kim said.
According to the diplomat, while bilateral trade and investment cooperation has seen some highlights, total trade volume remains limited, with few large investment projects in each other's country. However, both Vietnam and Mozambique recognise the potential and strengths that can complement and support each other in many areas, particularly in agriculture, aquaculture, telecommunications, digital transformation, energy, and minerals.
With appropriate research and timely investment, Mozambique could become a suitable investment market for Vietnamese enterprises who want to do business in East Africa. Additionally, many Mozambican businesses have expressed interest in exploring investment opportunities in Vietnam, particularly in agriculture and textiles./.
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