The President of the State of Israel, Shimon Peres, will pay an official visit to Vietnam from November 22-26 at the invitation of State President Truong Tan Sang.

This is the top-level visit to Vietnam by an Israeli leader since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1993.

Over the years, Israel and Vietnam have conducted a series of activities to promote mutual understanding and bilateral cooperation in economics, trade, training, science and technology, agriculture, irrigation and health care.

Bilateral relations have grown substantially after PM Nguyen Tan Dung approved guidelines in March 2010 to step up multifaceted cooperation with Israel.

Israel is keen on strengthening economic cooperation with Vietnam. Two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Israel reached US$220 million last year, up 34 percent over 2008. Vietnam exports footwear, garments and textiles, and agricultural products to Israel while importing from the country high-tech equipment, chemicals and fertilizers.

This year, Israel has provided additional credits of US$100 million for Vietnam. The country ranks 54^th among a total of 93 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with 9 projects capitalized at nearly US$33.8 million.

Many Israeli companies have engaged in a number of investment projects in Hanoi, Khanh Hoa, and HCM City. With its valuable experiences, Israel has dispatched its experts to help Vietnam set up model agricultural farms in Ha Giang, Ha Tay and Hanoi.

Israel’s high-tech projects on growing flowers, vegetables and fruits, and raising dairy cows in Hanoi, Hai Phong, Nghe An, Da Lat and  HCM City have proved effective.

Israel has regularly provided short-term training scholarships for Vietnamese cadres to learn in the areas of its strength such as science and technology, agriculture, irrigation and the environment.

Over the years, Israel has sent a number of medical delegations to provide free check-ups and treatment for Vietnamese living northern and central provinces.

The country is also considered Vietnam’s labour market which attracted 1,000 Vietnamese guest workers in 2010.

Through President Shimon Peres’ visit, Vietnam wants to affirm its foreign policy of establishing bilateral and multilateral relations with Israel and other Arabian nations and  show its wish to boost cooperation with Israel, especially in its potential areas such as science and technology, investment, trade, labour, tourism and defence industry.