Many practical topics, including food security, agricultural cooperation, hunger elimination, poverty reduction, cooperation in trade, industry, energy, and investment, and human resource development for economic recovery and development were raised for discussion at the “Vietnam-Africa: Cooperation for Sustainable Development” seminar.

This seminar was evaluated to be better held than the first one in terms of quality and quantity of cooperation documents. Nearly 600 Vietnamese and foreign delegates presented more than 70 reports, fully assessing Vietnam-Africa relations and agreeing to boost cooperation in energy, agriculture, heath care, education, finance and banking. Delegates pointed out limitations and snags in cooperation that needed to deal with in the future.

The delegates also agreed to promote diplomatic cooperation and mutual understanding, create a legal framework for boosting cooperation in agriculture, energy security under bilateral, tripartite and quadripartite mechanisms.

They called on the United Nations, the international community and developed countries to support Vietnam and African countries in implementing the UN millennium development goals (MDGs) before 2015.

For its part, Vietnam pledged to assist African countries by supplying consultants in Vietnamese-related areas of development and create a favourable investment environment for African businesses. Vietnam also requested African governments to do the same to assist businesses in achieving greater penetration into the American market.

In his closing speech, Mr Khiem said the seminar laid a firm foundation for strengthening Vietnam-Africa relations.

Many delegates praised Vietnam’s active role in successfully organising the seminar.

Togo’s Foreign Minister Ahlin Elliot said “the seminar provided a good opportunity for African people to share cooperative experiences. As a developing country, Togo needs to develop many areas where Vietnam boasts its strength. The seminar helped us to cooperate closer in various areas.”

Deputy UN Secretary General Cheick Sidi Diarra also highlighted the significance of the seminar and praised Vietnam’s effort to promote the mechanism for Vietnam- Africa- the UN tripartite cooperation.

Mr Diarra said he hoped the cooperation process will help countries further develop for sake of global peace and stability.

On the occasion, Vietnam and African governments signed a number of cooperation documents including a cooperation framework agreement with Seychelles and two cooperation agreements between the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and Benin and Burkina Faso.

The same day, a Vietnam-Africa business forum was held on the sidelines of the seminar with the participation of more than 150 Vietnamese and African entrepreneurs.

At the forum, the entrepreneurs expressed their wish to promote cooperation and information exchange as well as pointing out difficulties in geographical position and cultural barriers that hindered them from penetrating each other’s markets.

Governments from both sides should build specific framework agreements to create a favourable legal environment for businesses to access markets more easily, they said.

Le Thi Xuan Hong Deputy Director of the Hanoi General Service, Investment and Trade Joint Stock Company said Africa is a strong potential market and therefore, the Vietnamese Government and the Ministry of Industry and Trade need to work out trade promotion programmes to assist Vietnamese businesses in learning more about the African market.

Vietnamese and African businesses can expand their banking systems by developing online payment services which will help Vietnam boost exports to Africa, she said.

On the occasion, an African business delegation visited some factories in the northern provinces to gain information about cooperation and investment.

A number of separate agreements between businesses will be signed during the fact-finding tour.