President Tran Dai Quang on November 27 had bilateral meetings with officials from the French Community of Belgium (Federation Wallonie-Bruxelles) and Egypt on the sidelines of the 16th Francophone Summit.

President Tran Dai Quang and Rudy Demotte, Minister-President of the FederationWallonie-Bruxelles

At their meetings, President Quang and Rudy Demotte, Minister-President of the FederationWallonie-Bruxelles, expressed their joy at the flourishing development of the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam with Belgium in general and the Wallonie-Bruxelles region in particular, especially in education, vocational training, health care, environment. 

The Vietnamese leader hoped the two sides will continue working closely on the implementation of projects within the Francophone community in the coming time. 

During his meeting head of the Egypt delegation to the Summit Ibrahim Mahlab, President Quang suggested the Egyptian side support Vietnam to establish a Halal Certification Centre in Vietnam, towards making it easier for Vietnamese goods to access Islamic markets.

He applauded Egypt for signing the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). 

For his part, Ibrahim Mahlab said Egypt and Vietnam boast potential for stronger cooperation, especially in the economy, trade and investment. 

He called on Vietnamese firms to invest in a newly-constructed special logistics zone along the Suez Canal, affirming that Egypt is willing to serve a gateway for Vietnamese commodities to make inroads into the region.

President meets with leaders of Francophone nations

President Tran Dai Quang speaks at the opening ceremony of the 16th Francophone Summit 

President Tran Dai Quang had bilateral meetings with officials of several member nations of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) on November 26, on the sidelines of the ongoing 16th Francophone Summit in Madagascar. 

Meeting with French President Francois Hollande, the Vietnamese State leader said Francois Hollande’s recent visit to Vietnam helped create new momentum to the strategy counterpartership between the two countries. 

The French President spoke highly of Vietnam’s great contributions to the Francophone community. 

The two leaders agreed to work closely to promote the implementation of the Francophone community’s priorities in the coming time. 

During their meeting, President of Senegal Macky Sall and President Tran Dai Quang highlighted great potential for Vietnam and Senegal to push links in trade, agriculture, and aquaculture. 

Macky Sall said his country wants to learn from Vietnam’s experience in rice cultivation and agricultural production, towards ensuring food security in Senegal. 

Meanwhile in his meeting with President of Cote d’Ivoire Alassane Ouattara, President Quang affirmed that Cote d’Ivoire is Vietnam’s second trade partner in Africa. 

The President of Cote d’Ivoire appreciated Vietnamese firms’ effective operations in his country, saying that the West African hopes to expand cooperation with Vietnam in agriculture, especially in cacao production. 

At their meeting, President Quang and President of Mauritius Anerood Jugnauth expressed their joy at fruitful development in the bilateral ties, and shared their hope that the two countries will foster trade and investment bonds in the time ahead. 

In his meeting with the Vietnamese leader, Swiss President Johan N-Schneider Ammann affirmed that negotiations of the Europe-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is smooth. 

Meanwhile, Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic invited President Tran Dai Quang to visit his country, and affirmed that Serbia is willing to cooperate with Vietnam at international forums.

On the same day, President Quang met President of Chad Idriss  Deby Itno, Minister of External Relations of Cameroon Lejeune Mbella Mbella.

VNA