Ambassador of Egypt to Việt Nam Amal Abdel Kader Elmorsi Salama wrote to Việt Nam News on the 71th anniversary of the National Day of Egypt and the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Egypt and Việt Nam.

This year, the Egyptian National Day marks the 71th anniversary of the Egyptian revolution of July 23, 1952, the event that shaped the modern political history in Egypt, and significantly inspired other countries in different parts of the world, especially those who were struggling to achieve their independence. The first Egyptian Republic was then established to lead the path of modernisation, development and social justice in Egypt.

Not many years later, and in the spirit of solidarity among nations aspiring for independence and development, Egypt and Việt Nam established diplomatic relations in 1963, and both countries are celebrating this year the 60th anniversary of Egyptian-Vietnamese diplomatic relations, and the longstanding friendship between our two nations.

Ambassador Amal Abdel Kader Elmorsi Salama pays a courtesy call on Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính in June 15, 2022. — Photo courtesy of the embassy

In recent years, the friendship between Egypt and Việt Nam had its highest political manifestation in the historic exchanged state visits of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to Việt Nam in September 2017, and the late president of Việt Nam Trần Đại Quang to Egypt in August 2018. These visits contributed further momentum to bilateral relations between our two countries and peoples in all fields, including political, economic, military, parliamentary, and cultural aspects.

Furthermore, and despite the impact of the pandemic, the economic ties between Egypt and Việt Nam continued to grow. Bilateral trade volume between the two countries reached almost US$600 million in the last year. In addition, Egypt and Việt Nam actively resumed the exchange of bilateral visits throughout the year, and the ninth session of the political consultations between both countries was held in Hà Nội in September 2022. Currently, both countries are working closely to prepare for the sixth session of the Egyptian Vietnamese Joint Committee in the coming months.

We are also coordinating closely this year to arrange more high level visits to be exchanged between both countries, and organise different cultural activities in the framework of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Among the different fields of cooperation between Egypt and Việt Nam, cultural relations continue to be a very important pillar of our bilateral relations. Several joint activities took place in recent years, including the active participation in cultural festivals and events organised by the two countries; in addition to the increasing numbers of Vietnamese students choosing to study Arabic language in Egypt. These relations further contribute to raising the awareness of the young generations regarding the friendship between our two nations, and consolidate the cultural links between our countries.

Egypt hosted the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 27) in November 2022, to address the important challenges that the world faces as a result of climate change, and discuss the different commitments pledged in this regard. A Vietnamese delegation led by Trần Hồng Hà, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment at that time (currently the deputy prime minister of Việt Nam), participated in this very important conference.

Statue of Ramses II in Luxor Temple. — Photo courtesy of the embassy

On the national level, the Egyptian Government has also launched a successful economic reform programme since 2016, together with the Egypt Vision 2030 that reflects the country's long-term strategic plan to achieve the principles and goals of sustainable development in all fields.

Egypt is also witnessing real development progress in many fields, where many cities are currently being completed, in addition to the new administrative capital, and an extensive network of roads and tunnels have been constructed. Also, many national initiatives have been launched such as "a decent life", which contributes to enhancing the quality of daily public services provided to Egyptian citizens, and the "Egypt future" project which aims to reclaim and develop 1.5 million acres in Egypt, as well as Egypt's adoption of two national strategies in the field of hydrogen and the electric car industry, and its successful programme regarding renewable energy projects, and electrical interconnection projects with neighbouring countries, in addition to developing international and domestic airports and ports. Also, the Suez Canal Economic Zone SCZONE is adopting a investor-friendly business environment that will be a cornerstone for national development plans.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere congratulations to Việt Nam for its impressive socio-economic achievements in recent years, and to emphasise that under the current leadership of both our nations, Egypt and Việt Nam will continue to explore together the bright future of their friendship and cooperation, and further enhance traditional ties between both countries, and brotherly relations between our two peoples. — VNS