Maputo (VNA)♛ – Vietnam and Mozambique have agreed to work on concrete measures to boost all-round ties in the time ahead during talks between visiting Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang and his Mozambican counterpart Filipe Jacinto Nyusi.

The talks were held following a welcome ceremony for President Sang with the highest rituals for a Head of State in the capital city of Maputo on March 11. President Sang expressed his delight at visiting the country after seven years in office, and spoke highly of Mozambique’s socio-economic achievements and reform over the past years. The Mozambican leader hailed President Sang’s visit – the first made by a Vietnamese State leader, as a significant milestone in bilateral ties. He said he considers Vietnam a symbol of heroism in the national liberation and admires the country for its successes reaped during the national construction and development. Regarding political relations, both sides were committed to facilitating all-level visits and supporting each other at international forums and organisations. On regional and global issues of shared concern, the two countries pledged continued efforts to maintain global peace and stability, agreeing that territorial border issues must be settled by peaceful means in line with international law. The Vietnamese President thanked Mozambique for backing his country’s bid for a seat at the UN Economic and Social Council for 2016-2018. He also suggested the African country to support Vietnam in becoming a member of the International Law Commission for the 2017-2021 tenure and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021. They shared view that the Inter-governmental Committee and political consultation mechanism between the two Foreign Ministries should be made regular with a variety of specific goals. In terms of trade, host and guest said it remains modest and unmatched with the two countries’ potential and political ties. They vowed to direct ministries and departments to discuss specific measures to lift two-way trade to at least 500 million USD by 2020 and beyond. To that end, Vietnam asked Mozambique to create an economic cooperation framework conducive to their business communities, with the construction of a bonded warehouse as an immediate plan. The two leaders expressed delight at the Movitel joint venture between Vietnam’s military-run telecommunication group Viettel and Mozambique’s SPI Company, saying that its success manifests Vietnam’s effective investment in Mozambique. Mozambique highly valued the contributions Motivel has made to the country’s socio-economic development, and agreed to expand the cooperation model to other fields such as petroleum, trade, agricultural processing and construction. The two sides consented to boosting connections in agriculture and aquatic products. Mozambique appreciated the success of the rice growing project among Vietnam, Mozambique and Japan, which introduced high-yield varieties in the country. The African country hoped Vietnam will send experts to work at its aquatic research institute and help develop fish breeding models at sea. The two leaders also shared the view that relevant ministries and sectors will accelerate the delayed joint project on planting rubber trees. In the field of transport, the Mozambican President said his country wishes to foster ties with Vietnam in navigation and marine transport, adding that it is drafting a law calling for private investment in the sector. He also suggested Vietnam continue to help his country in training human resources for the maritime sector. The Vietnamese side said it is willing to assist Mozambique in training human resources for information technology, military medicine and telecommunication as well as share its experience in preventing and fighting natural disasters, crime, terrorism, violence and wildfire. The two leaders agreed to accelerate negotiations for the signing of agreements on protection of confidential information, extradition, and the transfer of sentenced prisoners. They also reached consensus on the early organisation of the fourth Inter-Governmental Committee to realise agreements reached during their talks. After the talks, the two Presidents witnessed the signing of the Annex to the Protocol on cooperation in education and training between the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and training and Mozambique’s Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development. During his visit, President Sang is scheduled to meet other leaders of the host country and attend a Vietnam-Mozambique business forum.-VNA