PM meets with Guinea-Bissau President in Hanoi

Chinh appreciated the results of the President’s September 6 talks with Vietnamese General Secretary and President To Lam, and expressed his belief that Embalo’s first visit to Vietnam would usher in a new phase in the relations between Vietnam and Guinea-Bissau in the coming period.

He congratulated Guinea-Bissau on its recent socio-economic development achievements, and hoped Guinea-Bissau would soon realize the goals of its Guinea-Bissau 2025 Strategic Plan, to further develop the country and make effective contributions to peace, security, cooperation, and development in Africa.

Vietnam values its traditional friendship and cooperative relations with African countries, including Guinea Bissau, and is committed to continually expanding and developing these relations, emphasized the PM.

He pointed out that a significant milestone in this effort is Vietnam’s official designation as an Observer of the African Union in December 2023.

According to him, cooperation between Vietnam and Guinea-Bissau is also progressing positively based on a reliable political foundation formed by historical solidarity and mutual support in the struggle for national independence; an economic foundation built on similarities and complementary development conditions; and a foundation based on shared values, including support for and enhancement of multilateral cooperation and South-South cooperation.

Embalo for his part expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s remarkable development achievements and shared that the Vietnamese revolution, President Ho Chi Minh, and General Vo Nguyen Giap have inspired Guinea-Bissau’s path to national liberation. He noted that Vietnam serves as a model for Guinea-Bissau in maintaining stability, innovation, and economic development.

To further develop their relations, the two sides agreed to increase visit exchanges, support each other at multilateral forums, and assist each other in promoting regional cooperation.

Guinea-Bissau vows to support Vietnam in strengthening ties with the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), while Vietnam acts as a bridge for Guinea-Bissau to increase cooperation with ASEAN and its member countries.

Chinh welcomed Guinea-Bissau’s unilateral decision to waive visa requirements for Vietnamese diplomatic and official passport holders, which will facilitate increased exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.

Praising Vietnam’s macroeconomic management and international integration experience, Embalo voiced his support for Chinh’s proposals for prioritizing economic cooperation.

Accordingly, the two countries will diversify their export products, starting with cashew nuts and expanding into other key products such as rice, textiles, household goods, machinery, electrical equipment, and seafood. They will also increase business delegation visits, enhance market information, and explore business and investment opportunities.

Agricultural cooperation will be encouraged, including processing agricultural and aquatic products, and implementing trilateral agricultural cooperation projects, which will help Guinea-Bissau ensure food security and increase exports.

Additionally, they will strengthen cooperation in health care and education, while negotiating agreements to create a favourable legal framework for bilateral cooperation.

Embalo on this occasion extended his invitation to visit Guinea Bissau to Chinh, and the invitation was accepted with pleasure.