The Senegalese leader warmly welcomed the top Vietnamese legislator’s visit, considering it a milestone in bilateral relations. He stressed that the visit demonstrates Vietnam’s strong commitment to strengthening ties with Senegal, viewing it as a significant qualitative shift in bilateral cooperation that reflects the long-standing friendship between the two countries.

He also expressed his condolences and solidarity with the Vietnamese people in light of the damage recently caused by typhoon Wipha.

Ndiaye described agriculture as a key area of cooperation, and said Senegal currently imports around 10% of its rice from Vietnam, with an annual demand of approximately 100,000 tonnes. He proposed expanding exports of Senegalese cashew nuts, seafood, fish meal, and animal feed to Vietnam.

Noting Senegal’s position as a gateway to Africa and a logistics hub in West Africa, he called for increased Vietnamese investment in agricultural processing, science and technology, and digital transformation.

Chairman Tran Thanh Man, for his part, emphasised that despite the geographical distance, Vietnam and Senegal have always treasured their long-standing friendship and shared a special interest in each other over the years. He expressed his hope that the visit would not only open a new chapter in inter-parliamentary cooperation but also serve as a driving force to expand bilateral cooperation across all fields for mutual development and prosperity.

According to him, Vietnam attaches great importance to Africa, a continent with vast development potential and expected to be a growth centre in the future. Strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation with Africa, including Senegal, is a priority in Vietnam's foreign policy. With dynamic, open economies, Vietnam and Senegal have ample opportunities to become gateways for each other’s goods to access Southeast Asian and West African markets.

Chairman Man proposed that both sides continue to improve their legal frameworks in trade, industry, and investment; promote business exchanges; and boost exports of key products to each other’s markets.

Vietnam is ready to support Senegal in ensuring food security by sharing experience and transferring agricultural technologies, especially in rice cultivation and agro-processing, he assured his host.

He also called on Senegal to facilitate the import of Vietnamese goods such as textiles, footwear, agriculture machinery, and construction materials. At the same time, he encouraged Senegal to present potential projects in which Vietnam has strengths, like construction, science and technology, and telecommunications, to help Vietnamese businesses explore investment opportunities in Senegal.

On parliamentary cooperation, Chairman Man proposed that the two legislatures establish a regular exchange mechanism to maintain consistent dialogue, coordinate oversight of bilateral agreements, and promote the early signing of foundational cooperation documents. He also recommended the appointment of honorary consuls in each country and increased information sharing to support businesses.

He thanked Senegal for joining the Group of Friends on the Law of the Sea at the United Nations, initiated by Vietnam, and urged Senegal to support ASEAN and Vietnam's position on the East Sea, internationally known as the South China Sea, favouring peaceful dispute settlement in accordance with international law, especially the UN Charter and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The two leaders agreed that parliamentary cooperation is an important pillar of bilateral relations. They welcomed the launch of the Vietnam–Senegal Parliamentary Friendship Group, chaired by the Vice President of the Senegalese National Assembly and the Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Vietnamese National Assembly, regarding it as a significant step toward promoting inter-parliamentary and people-to-people exchanges.

Both sides also agreed to enhance high-level and working-level exchanges; maximise the role of the friendship group; collaborate at multilateral parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Francophone Parliamentary Assembly (APF); share legislative and oversight experiences; and expand training and information exchange between the two parliaments.

They reaffirmed their commitment to consolidating political trust through closer engagement between government agencies, businesses, and various levels of leadership, and to supporting each other at international forums.

On this occasion, Chairman Man extended an invitation to President Ndiaye to pay an official visit to Vietnam at an early date, and the invitation was accepted with pleasure.

Immediately following the talks, the two National Assembly leaders witnessed the launch of the Vietnam–Senegal Parliamentary Friendship Group, and signed a bilateral cooperation agreement between the two legislative bodies.

Under the agreement, both sides will encourage and promote the development of parliamentary cooperation in areas such as high-level visit exchanges; experience sharing; cooperation within multilateral parliamentary forums; and the development and implementation of joint cooperation initiatives.

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man warmly welcomed in Senegal on official visit

VOV.VN - President of the National Assembly El Malick Ndiaye hosted a welcoming ceremony in Dakar on July 23 for Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Tran Thanh Man and the high-level Vietnamese delegation on an official visit to Senegal.