Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and State President Nguyen Minh Triet separately received in Hanoi on Sept. 3 the visiting Mozambican Prime Minister Aires Bonifacio Baptista Ali.

Both Vietnamese Party and State leaders hailed the guests and described the visit as contributing to boosting the traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Mozambique .

General Secretary Manh affirmed that Vietnam was determined to strengthen the traditional friendship, comprehensive and equal partnership and support and assist each other in respective national development for the benefits of each people and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the two regions and the world.

He said that Vietnam was ready to share experiences in the fields of Mozambique ’s interests and stressed that the two sides should deepen their cooperation to obtain more effective results and create more favourable conditions for their enterprises to expand cooperation and investment in their potential fields.

General Secretary Manh took this occasion to send his best regards and invitation to President Armando Emilio Guebuza and President of the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) to visit Vietnam soon.

PM Aires Bonifacio Baptista Ali briefed the Vietnamese party leader about the Mozambican delegation’s working results and expressed his admiration at Vietnam ’s achievements in the past national liberation and the present national renewal.

He praised Vietnam ’s experiences in socio-economic development, stressing that Vietnam ’s development model was suitable for Mozambique to emulate.

He affirmed that Mozambique always wished to further develop friendship and cooperation with Vietnam , especially in economy, trade and investment. He encouraged Vietnamese enterprises to expand investment in Mozambique , particularly in agriculture, healthcare, education, aquaculture, telecom and oil and gas.

At the reception, State President Nguyen Minh Triet stressed that Vietnamese and Mozambican people always supported each other in the past struggles for independence and in the present national development.

President Triet said that the two countries have many fields to assist each other, especially agriculture, and Vietnam encourages its enterprises to go to Mozambique to grow rice and helps the latter to produce food for themselves and look toward exports.

In addition, President Triet said, ministries, sectors and localities of the two countries should boost exchanges and cooperation.

PM Aires Bonifacio Baptista Ali expressed his wish to learn from Vietnam ’s experience in economic development, social equality and food security and he also expressed his determination to boost economic, trade and investment cooperation to be equal to the strong political ties.

He said Mozambique welcomed investment from Vietnamese enterprises in food production areas to tap the natural potential of his country./.