President Nguyen Xuan Phuc held separate meetings with the ambassadors of Singapore and Egypt in Hanoi on Feb. 11, VNA and VOV reported.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Singaporean Ambassador Jaya Ratnam at the meeting on February 1. Photo: VNA

Talking to Singaporean Ambassador Jaya Ratnam, Phuc highlighted the two countries’ fruitful cooperation, especially in trade and investment, since his official visit as the Prime Minister of Vietnam to the island-city state in April 2018.

Ambassador Jaya Ratnam told his host that though 2021 was a year full of difficulties for both countries, the two sides maintained close relations through high-level talks.

High-level bilateral engagements have been sustained, including an in-person meeting between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Jakarta in April in 2021, and an official trip to Vietnam by Singaporean Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan in June last year.

The Vietnam – Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) are the cornerstone of Singapore’s economic engagement with Vietnam, and they have attracted some USD 14 billion and generated over 270,000 jobs in Vietnam over the past 25 years.

The two nations offered mutual support in health care, including in Covid-19 vaccine and medical supplies.

In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the Singapore community rallied to collect funds to purchase and distribute essentials for the needy, mindful of Vietnam's timely support for Singapore when the situation was in difficulties back in their country.

He pledged his best efforts to push bilateral ties, particularly in economy, trade, investment, defence and security.

Belhomes urban area in VSIP Bac Ninh. Photo: VSIP

President Phuc hailed the coordination among the countries’ agencies, ministries, and sectors to further strengthen the Vietnam - Singapore strategic partnership and work towards the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2023.

He suggested the two sides maintain all-level mutual visits, restore commercial flights, bolster defence cooperation, consider new cooperation areas like defence and search and rescue, and promote collaboration in human resources.

The host leader also thanked Singapore for its precious and timely assistance for Vietnam in the pandemic fight, calling for mutual recognition of “vaccine passports” and favourable conditions for each other’s people and businesses.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives Egyptian Ambassador Mahmoud Hassan Nayel on Feb. 11. Photo: VNA

Meeting with outgoing Ambassador of Egypt Mahmoud Hassan Nayel, President Phuc praised his guest’s contributions to the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

He said that Vietnam always treasured the long-standing bilateral relations, noting that even amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the two countries had fostered ties in a variety of fields, including trade which surged from over USD491 million in 2019 to USD515 million in 2020.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Egypt is currently one of the most important trade partners and a potential market of Vietnam in North Africa.

Vietnam’s main exports to Egypt include computers, electronic products and components; metals; fiber; machinery and equipment; seafood; cashew; phones and accessories; pepper; coffee; vegetables; and garments.

Meanwhile, the country imports vegetables and fruits, plastic materials, DAP fertilizer, and raw materials for textile and footwear production.

They have also consistently supported each other at international and regional forums.

Ambassador Mahmoud Hassan Nayel thanked relevant agencies of Vietnam for their support for his embassy to fulfill duties, adding that he always viewed Vietnam as his second homeland.

He voiced his hope that bilateral trade will continue to be enhanced and high-level mutual visits resumed.

President Phuc asked the two sides to intensify high-level delegation exchanges and meetings, as well as those between ministries, sectors, and enterprises to tighten links.

They should also work together to hold the sixth meeting of the Vietnam - Egypt Inter-governmental Committee in 2022; implement the signed agreements such as the investment and protection agreement, the memorandum of understanding on rice trade and the cooperation memorandum between the MoIT and the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.

He expressed his hope that after returning to Egypt, Mahmoud Hassan Nayel would continue supporting the countries’ relations toward stronger development in a multitude of fields.

In response, the Egyptian ambassador pledged more contribution to bilateral ties, especially when his nation is the host of the UN Climate Change Conference 2022, which will give both sides chances for broader cooperation in climate change-related issues.

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