Cairo (VNA) – Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Speaker of theHouse of Representatives Ali Abdel-Aal pledged their back for Vietnam’s effortsto strengthen its relations with the Middle East and Africa.

The two leaders made the commitment at their separate receptionsfor Vo Van Thuong, Politburo member, Secretary of the Communist Party ofVietnam Central Committee and head of its Commission for Information andEducation, who is on a working visit to Egypt from May 23-27.

They affirmed that Vietnam is a friend and trusted partnerof Egypt in Southeast Asia. They hoped the two countries’ relations will helpboost Egypt’s ties with the region.

Egypt is speeding up the implementation of memoranda ofunderstanding and agreements it signed with Vietnam, and willing to create allfavourable conditions for Vietnamese investors, they stated.

They also suggested both sides intensify collaboration intourism, culture and people-to-people exchange.

For his part, Thuong briefed the hosts on Vietnam’ssocio-economic situation and its outstanding achievements in more than 30 yearsof renewal.

He confirmed that Vietnam always bears in mind the supportof Egypt for its past struggle for national liberation and current nationalbuilding and development.

He showed his belief that with strong politicaldetermination of the two countries’ leaders and legitimate aspirations of theirpeople, Vietnam and Egypt will maintain close coordination and support atregional and international forums for the interests of the people and forpeace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

The Vietnamese official also had meetings with leaders ofthe Egyptian Communist Party and the Socialist Party of Egypt, during which heaffirmed that Vietnam is always a loyal friend and a reliable partner of othercountries.

In his meetings with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukryand Minister of Communications and Information Technology Yasser El-Kady,Thuong said that Vietnam attaches importance to strengthening its relationswith Egypt and appreciates the country’s role in the Non-Aligned Movement aswell as its efforts to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East.

The Egyptian side expressed hope to learn from Vietnam’sexperience in developing fisheries, rice cultivation and ship building, andenhance cooperation in information technology and communications, cybersecurity, software manufacturing, renewable energy, education and culture.

Leaving Egypt, the Vietnamese Party delegation will have aworking visit to Greece.-VNA