Vietnam, Senegal boost multi-faceted cooperation

Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Foreign Minister Vu Hong Nam has made an official visit to Senegal as a special envoy of the President.
 
During his visit between April 13 and 15, he had a meeting with Senegalese President Macky Sall to convey an invitation to visit Vietnam from President Tran Dai Quang.

Nam also had working sessions with Senegal’s ministers of Foreign Affairs, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Agriculture and Rural Equipment, and representatives from the local Ministry of Trade.

At these meetings, the Vietnamese official stressed precious support of the Senegalese Government and people toward Vietnam’s struggle for national liberation and expressed support for President Macky Sall’s policies to turn Senegal into an emerging market in 2035.

Briefing on developments of disputes in the East Sea through history and in recent years, he affirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of settling disputes by peaceful measures in line with international law.

The Senegalese side spoke of Vietnam’s stance on the issue.

Senegal is committed to supporting Vietnam’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council in the 2020-2021 tenure.

On the occasion, Senegal shared its experience in the management of the Senegal River, which runs through Guinea, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal, and invited Vietnam to take part in its initiative of building a legal document on the use of water resources within the framework of UN forums.

Both sides agreed to boost economic ties to be on par with sound political relations, and soon sign an agreement to set up a joint committee so that it could convene its first meeting in 2017 in preparation for President Macky Sall’s visit to Vietnam.

They considered the signing of a memorandum of understanding on trade and industrial cooperation as well as agreements on visa exemption for official and diplomatic passport holders, double tax avoidance and investment promotion and protection.

They highlighted that honorary consuls to their respective countries would soon be assigned to boost trade.

Vietnam expressed concerns over reducing bilateral trade from nearly 200 million USD in 2012 to about 50 million USD in 2016. Senegal attributed the reduction to its cut on rice import from Vietnam, as the country has been close to its self-sufficient goal.

Both sides targeted diversifying traded commodities as a measure to underpin bilateral trade, with priorities given to a number of products including agricultural machinery, fertilizers, apparel, and phone components.

Vietnam said it is willing to welcome Senegalese students to study marine navigation and agriculture, while Senegal said its market is open for Vietnamese investors in the production of rice and fishery products and mining.

As part of his visit, Deputy Foreign Minister Nam, who is also head of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, visited the Vietnamese expat community in Senegal.-VNA