President leaves Hanoi for State visits to Ethiopia, Egypt

ABO/VNA – President Tran Dai Quang and his spouse left Hanoi on August 23 morning for a State visit to Ethiopia from August 23-25 at the invitation of Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome.

President Tran Dai Quang (Photo: VNA)

This is the first trip to Ethiopia by a head of State of Vietnam since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1976. It is expected to create a historical milestone in the bilateral relations and open up investment and trade cooperation prospects in the years to come.

Vietnam and Ethiopia have signed a framework agreement on cooperation in culture and another on collaboration in economy and science-technology, as well as a cooperation deal between the Vietnamese and Ethiopian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Bilateral trade hit 11.3 million USD in 2017, of which Vietnam exported 2.2 million USD worth of goods, mainly garment-textiles, footwear, and chemical products.

In April 2014, Ethiopia recognised Vietnam’s market economy status.

After the Ethiopia trip, President Quang and his spouse will pay a State visit to Egypt from August 25-29 at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

The visits to Ethiopia and Egypt aim to affirm Vietnam’s persistent pursuance of its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation, and diversification of international relations.

Vietnam always attaches great importance to enhancing traditional friendship with African countries in general, and Ethiopia and Egypt in particular.

The visits will also create a chance for countries to exchange measures to further develop their cooperation in economy, trade, investment, as well as seek cooperation opportunities in their fields of their strength such as agriculture, culture, and tourism.

(Source: VNA)