Pretoria (VNA) –SierraLeone’s President Ernest Bai Koroma called on Vietnam to step up multi-facetedcooperation with his country, focusing on agriculture, fishery and mining.

At a reception for VietnameseAmbassador to Nigeria and Sierra Leone Pham Anh Tuan who presented hiscredentials in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on October 6, President Koroma expressedhis admiration for Vietnam’s development.

Vietnam has emerged from being one of the world’s poorest nations after war tobecome a middle-income earner, he said.

Ambassador Tuan briefed his host on Vietnam’s domestic situation and foreignrelations, and noted his wish to contribute to strengthening all-roundcooperation, especially in trade, investment, and multi-lateral collaboration.

He agreed with President Koroma that cooperation should be focused on areas ofthe two sides’ strengths like agriculture, fishery and mining.

Earlier, Ambassador Tuan visited Sierra Leone Foreign Minister Samara Karama,during which he suggested the two countries enhance relations in issues ofshared concern and for mutual benefits at international forums.

He used the occasion to appeal to Sierra Leone to soon recognise Vietnam’smarket economy.

The diplomat also had a working session with Sierra Leone Minister ofAgriculture, Forestry and Food Security Monty Jones, where he called on SierraLeone to materialise agreements it has reached with Vietnam in agriculture andrice trading.

At a meeting with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Sierra Leone, theambassador said he hope that the Vietnamese Association in Sierra Leone will beestablished soon to contribute to enhancing economic ties and people-to-peopleexchange between the two countries. -VNA