Viet Nam has always treasured its broad co-operative relations with Tanzania, President Truong Tan Sang told his Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete in Ha Noi yesterday.

President Truong Tan Sang (left) and his Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete review a guard of honour yesterday in Ha Noi.

Sang also said that the Viet Nam visit by President Kikwete and his delegation is a significant landmark that would further elevate the traditional friendly relations and co-operation between the two countries.

"Viet Nam always attaches importance to expanding mutually beneficial co-operation with African countries, including Tanzania, which has always sided with Viet Nam in its past struggles for national independence and unification as well as the current national construction and development process," Sang said.

He lauded the impressive achievements recorded by the Tanzanian people in carrying out economic reforms as well as the positive contributions they have made to peace, stability, co-operation and unity in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Economic Community (AEC).

The Tanzanian President expressed his admiration for Viet Nam's past struggles for independence and unification and its current renewal and development achievements. He said this was a great inspiration for the people of Tanzania in their own struggle for national liberation and national development.

During their talks, the presidents informed each other about contemporary developments in their countries, assessed the results of co-operation in the recent past and agreed upon measures to further strengthen all-round co-operation.

They expressed satisfaction over positive developments in recent times and agreed to forge closer political ties by promoting exchange visits at all levels, people-to-people diplomacy and setting up twin relationships between major cities to deepen mutual understanding.

The two State leaders also agreed to facilitate effective implementation of agricultural and telecommunications co-operation projects and to direct ministries and sectors to promote co-operation in the areas of investment, trade, agriculture, fishery, education, healthcare, telecommunications and maritime transport services within the South-South co-operation framework.

President Kikwete expressed his nation's willingness to act as a bridge for Viet Nam to enter the African and East African markets. He hoped that Viet Nam can return the favour by facilitating Tanzania's entry into the ASEAN market.

Both sides agreed to organize an early meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee in 2015.

Exchanging views on regional and international issues the two presidents underlined the need for both countries to co-operate closely at regional and international forums towards building a more equal and democratic world for the sake of peace, stability, co-operation and development.

President Sang thanked Tanzania for supporting Viet Nam's election to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2014-2016 term and asked for continued support for its candidacy in other international organizations in the future. He stressed that Viet Nam always stands ready to respond positively to proposals from Tanzania.

The two leaders also stressed the importance of ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation in the East Sea, resolving disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and finalizing negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of a maritime transport co-operation agreement.

The Tanzanian President used the occasion to invite President Sang to visit Tanzania, and the latter expressed pleasure in accepting the invitation.

Bilateral relations

Viet Nam appreciated the bilateral relationship with Tanzania, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong told visiting Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete in Ha Noi yesterday.

At the meeting, the Party leader congratulated Tanzania on its achievements in building the country under the leadership of President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, who is also Chairman of the Revolutionary Party of Tanzania (CCM).

He proposed the two countries further boost bilateral co-operation.

The General Secretary agreed to enhance connection between the two Parties, contributing to promoting friendship and co-operation between the two peoples.

The Tanzanian President told Trong about his talks with President Truong Tan Sang, saying that he would his utmost to promote friendship between the two Parties and peoples.

VNS/VNN