A welcome ceremony held for President of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Sissoco Embaló and his spouse at Nội Bài International Airport. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Đức

HÀ NỘI — President of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Sissoco Embaló and his spouse arrived in Hà Nội on Thursday evening, starting a four-day official visit to Việt Nam at the invitation of Party General Secretary and President Tô Lâm and his wife. 

The Guinea-Bissau delegation was welcomed at the Nội Bài International Airport by deputy head of the Presidential Office Phan Thị Kim Oanh, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyễn Minh Hằng, Vietnamese Ambassador to Morocco and Guinea-Bissau Lê Kim Quy, among others.

According to Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Phạm Thu Hằng, this is the first visit to Việt Nam by the President of Guinea-Bissau since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1973.

Over the past five decades, the two countries have maintained a strong political relationship, reflected through the exchange of delegations. Guinea-Bissau has actively supported Việt Nam at various multilateral forums. In July, Guinea-Bissau was one of the two African countries sending a delegation to pay respects to late Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng.

In the economic sphere, bilateral trade has been steadily increasing, from US$56.1 million in 2020 to nearly $170 million last year. Việt Nam is Guinea-Bissau's third-largest export market, while the latter has been one of the former’s top five suppliers of raw cashew nuts from Africa for many years.

The first high-level visit between Việt Nam and Guinea-Bissau reaffirms that Việt Nam attaches importance to developing traditional friendship with countries and partners in Africa, including Guinea-Bissau, Hằng said, adding that this also aims to lay a foundation for promoting multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, not only in traditional areas such as politics, economy, trade, agriculture, fisheries, and processing industries, but also in new spheres like port infrastructure development and mining.

During his stay, Embaló will hold talks with Party General Secretary and President Tô Lâm, as well as meet with other senior leaders of Việt Nam and participate in several important diplomatic activities. — VNS