Bilateral relations between Vietnam and Egypt are expected to be elevated to a new height following Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s visit to Vietnam earlier this month, said a Vietnamese diplomat.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (L) meets President Tran Dai Quang. His visit to Vietnam laid a foundation for developing bilateral cooperation in politics, economy, culture, education, security and counter-terrorism.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Egypt Do Hoang Long made the statement at a ceremony to mark the 72nd anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day in Cairo on September 21.

Long said that the first-ever state visit to Vietnam by an Egyptian president since the two countries set up diplomatic ties in 1963 laid a foundation for developing bilateral cooperation in politics, economy, culture, education, security and counter-terrorism.

He believed that the two countries will make efforts to realise agreements reached during the Egyptian President’s visit to Vietnam.

The diplomat took this occasion to thank Egyptian ministries, agencies, organisations and friends for supporting the embassy to fulfill its missions as well as promoting friendship between the two countries.

During the Egyptian leader’s visit to Vietnam, the two sides signed several agreements, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on establishing a trade and industry cooperation sub-committee, a MoU on marine transport collaboration, a tourism cooperation programme and a cultural partnership programme.

Egypt is the second largest trade partner of Vietnam in Africa, with two-way trade hitting 316 million USD in 2016. Vietnam exported seafood, automobile spare parts, fabric, black peppercorn, coffee, rubber and other consumer goods to Egypt and imported mainly chemicals, oil products, milk and dairy products, and fibres from the country.

VNA