Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue’s working trips to Nigeria, Cameroon and South Africa have opened up new prospects for socio-economic and cultural cooperation with the African countries.

During his visit to South Africa, Deputy Prime Minister Hue held talks with Deputy President of South Africa David Mabuza and had a working session with Secretary General of the African National Congress (ANC) Elias Sekgobelo Ace Magashule. He also attended a Vietnam-South Africa trade and investment forum, visited the Vietnamese Embassy and met with representatives from the Vietnamese community in South Africa.

During his meetings with South African leaders, Deputy Prime Minister Hue informed the host on Vietnam’s socio-economic situation and affirmed the country’s interest in promoting cooperation with South Africa, the only African country that has a partnership for cooperation and development with Vietnam.

He congratulated President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Congress of Progressive People (ANC) on the second term of office and thanked the South African Government for supporting Vietnam to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue holds talks with South African Vice President David Mabuza. Photo: Phi Hung/VNA He speaks at the Vietnam-South Africa trade and investment forum. Photo: Phi Hung/VNA He pays a courtesy visit to Secretary General of the African National Congress (ANC) Elias Sekgobelo Ace Magashule. Photo: Phi Hung/VNA With staff members of the Vietnam Embassy and Vietnamese in South Africa. Photo: Phi Hung/VNA Vice President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire receives Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue. Photo: Phi Hung/VNA The Vietnamese Deputy PM has a meeting with Prime Minister of Cameroon Joseph Dion Ngute. Photo: Phi Hung/VNA Through PM Joseph Dion Ngute, Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue presents a letter from President Nguyen Phu Trong to the President of Cameroon. Photo: Phi Hung/VNA The Vietnamese official has a working session with Vice President of the National Assembly Etong Nzok Hilarion. Photo: Phi Hung/VNA Vice President of the Senate Lamido Abubakary Abdulaye receives Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue. Photo: Phi Hung/VNA Viettel General Director Le Dang Dung presents 100 tons of rice to Cameroon in the presence of the Vietnamese leader. Photo: Phi Hung/VNA

Within the framework of Cameroon visit, the Vietnamese leader had talks with Cameroon Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute, visited the Senate and the National Assembly of the Parliament of Cameroon, and had working sessions with Vice President of the Senate Lamido Abubakary Abdulaye and Vice President of the National Assembly Etong Nzok Hilarion.

At the talks with PM Joseph Dion Ngute, the Vietnamese Deputy PM affirmed Vietnam’s policy on promoting multi-faceted cooperation, particularly in economics and trade, with African countries, including Cameroon, on the basis of their political trust and traditional friendship and mutual support.

Hue said to facilitate stronger bilateral collaboration, the two countries should intensify negotiation for the early signing of bilateral agreements, creating the legal framework for trade as well as cooperation in other fields.

Cameroon Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute affirmed that Cameroon hopes to set up cooperative ties with Vietnam across the fields, with a focus on sectors where Cameroon has great potential and Vietnam is strong at, such as agriculture and processing of cashew nut, wood and coffee.

The two leaders discussed about support for Vietnamese businesses operating in Cameroon including Nextel- a joint venture between Vietnam’s Viettel group and Cameroon partner. Deputy PM Hue appreciated the work of the Cameroon Government and PM Joseph Dion Ngute himself to facilitate their operation.

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue (L) and Nigerian Vice President Yeni Osinbajo. Photo: Phi Hung/VNA The Vietnamese Deputy PM has a working session with Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria Ahmed Idris Wase. Photo: Phi Hung/VNA He attends the Vietnam - Nigeria trade and nvestment seminar. Photo: Phi Hung/VNA The Vietnamese official presents a gift to Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Party of Nigeria Adams Oshiomhole. Photo: Phi Hung/VNA He also presents a gift to Chairman of the Nigeria-Vietnam Business Association, Sani Bako (the first Nigerian Ambassador to Vietnam). Photo: Phi Hung/VNA President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Jean-Claude Kassi Brou welcomes Deputy PM Hue to the ECOWAS’s office. Photo: Phi Hung/VNA

During his trip to Nigeria, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue and his entourage had a working session with Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Party of Nigeria Adams Oshiomhole, leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigeria-Vietnam Business Association. He attended the Vietnam-Nigeria trade-investment seminar, visited the Vietnamese Embassy and had a meeting with the Vietnamese community in Nigeria.

The Vietnamese Deputy PM affirmed that Vietnam is willing to support Nigeria in applying hi-tech to agriculture and send agricultural experts to the country to study agricultural cooperation projects.

At the Vietnam-Nigeria trade and investment seminar, the largest-scale one that attracted leaders and representatives from about 150 Nigerian enterprises, Hue proposed measures to boo st bilateral trade, particularly farm produce of Vietnam’s strength such as cashew nuts, rice, cotton and coffee.

The Vietnamese leader said the country wants to increase trade with Nigeria through exporting cashew nuts, rice, aquatic products, cotton, footwear and textiles.

By Phi Hung / VNA