At the political consultation, Foreign Minister Wautabouna Ouattara welcomed Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Hang to visit Côte d'Ivoire, expressed admiration for the process of innovation and economic transformation, and highly appreciated economic-socio achievements in Vietnam in recent times. He also expressed the hope to exchange and learn from Vietnam's successful development model.

Thanking Minister Wautabouna Ouattara for his assessments and great affection for Vietnam and the relationship between the two countries, Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Hang affirmed that Vietnam always values ​​and wishes to promote multi-faceted cooperation with Côte d'Ivoire - Vietnam's traditional and friendly partner in Africa. Both sides expressed their joy at the remarkable developments in Vietnam - Côte d'Ivoire relations recently on all fields and channels, notably the regular high-level delegation exchanges between the two countries.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang visited and co-chaired the 3rd Political Consultation with Côte d'Ivoire Minister of Foreign Affairs Wautabouna Ouattara. (Photo: Thoi Dai)

Côte d'Ivoire is currently Vietnam's leading trade partner in Africa, with trade turnover in 2024 reaching USD 1.3 billion. The two sides still have much potential to strengthen cooperation in other fields such as trade, investment, agriculture, culture, sports, etc.

In a friendly and cordial atmosphere, the two sides discussed and agreed on many measures to create a breakthrough in cooperative relation, aiming to celebrate the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations in 2025. Specifically, both countries will strengthen the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially high-level ones, continue to coordinate closely and support each other at important international and regional forums and organizations such as the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), strengthen cultural and sports exchanges, promote tourism cooperation, etc.

Regarding cooperation in economics, the two sides agreed to promote connection, contact, and information exchange, creating conditions for the two countries' key export products such as rice, cashew nuts, etc., and expanding exports to other potential goods such as cocoa, chemicals, two-wheeled motor vehicles, etc. Both countries will also enhance the sharing of opportunities and investment projects in each country, accelerate negotiations, and sign bilateral cooperation agreements on important trade and investment... to create a favorable legal corridor for bilateral cooperation.

Minister Wautabouna Ouattara affirmed the significance of Vietnam as a strategic partner in agriculture and hoped that Vietnam would support Côte d'Ivoire in rice production and food security. Côte d'Ivoire welcomes and is willing to create favorable conditions and incentives for Vietnamese businesses to open branches and invest, thereby contributing to Côte d'Ivoire’s achievement of its strategic goals of national development.

During the visit, Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Hang had a courtesy call on Vice President of the National Assembly Konate Sidiki and attended the Vietnam - Côte d'Ivoire Business Seminar hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Côte d'Ivoire. At the courtesy call, the Vice President of the Côte d'Ivoire National Assembly expressed his impression and admiration for Vietnam's history, emphasizing that although the two countries are geographically distant, both share many similarities in thinking and culture.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Hang had a courtesy call with Vice President of National Assembly Konate Sidiki. (Photo: Thoi Dai)

The two sides agreed to further promote the role of parliamentary diplomacy and the National Assembly of the two countries in promoting bilateral cooperation, actively implementing the results of the visit to Vietnam by Côte d'Ivoire National Assembly President Amada Bitogo in June 2023, as well as coordinate well to prepare for high-level delegation exchanges in the near future.

At the Business Seminar, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Toure Faman and Côte d'Ivoire businesses said they consider Vietnam an important market and expressed their interest in cooperation opportunities in Vietnam. It was proposed that the two sides increase information sharing on policies and market demands, thereby promoting connection activities and creating favorable conditions and environments for the businesses of the two countries. Côte d'Ivoire businesses expressed their desire to establish business partnerships with Vietnamese corporates in potential fields such as rice, cashew nuts, rubber, cocoa...

Welcoming the cooperation proposals of Côte d'Ivoire partners, Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Hang affirmed that she would coordinate closely with relevant Vietnamese agencies to promote the implementation of the commitment and agreement reached. The Deputy Minister expressed her belief that with the strengths and dynamism of the two economies, the cooperative relation between Vietnam and Côte d'Ivoire will increasingly expand, better meeting the development needs and interests of the two people.

At the invitation of Minister of Culture Francoise Remarck, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang attended the Abidjan Art and Performance Fair 2024 (MASA), a large-scale international cultural exchange event held by Côte d'Ivoire every two years with the participation of more than 33 countries.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Hang attended the Abidjan Performing and Arts Fair 2024 (MASA). (Photo: Thoi Dai)

At the event, leaders of the Ministry of Culture expressed their admiration for Vietnam's unique and rich culture and wished the two countries to increase cultural exchanges as well as soon welcome the Vietnamese art delegation to perform at cultural events in Côte d'Ivoire.

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