Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi (right) and Vietnamese President Lương Cường listen to the national anthems of the two countries during the official welcome ceremony on August 5. — VNA/VNS Photo Lâm Khánh

CAIRO — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Tuesday presided over the official welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Cairo for Vietnamese State President Lương Cường and his spouse Nguyễn Thị Minh Nguyệt, along with the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, as they began their State visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt.

President Cường’s state visit comes at a time when Việt Nam–Egypt relations are witnessing positive development. This is the first visit to Egypt by a top Vietnamese leader in seven years.

The Việt Nam–Egypt relationship spans over 60 years since the establishment of official diplomatic ties on September 1, 1963.

However, its foundations were laid much earlier by President Hồ Chí Minh. During his lifetime, President Hồ Chí Minh visited Egypt three times. In June 1911, he first set foot on Egyptian soil and witnessed firsthand the hardships faced by colonised peoples in Africa. Thirty-five years later, as President of the Democratic Republic of Việt Nam, he returned to Egypt in June 1946 en route to the Fontainebleau Conference in France, and again in September 1946 on his return journey. President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt and President Hồ Chí Minh forged a close friendship, which laid the groundwork for the lasting and strong Việt Nam–Egypt friendship.

Since establishing diplomatic ties, the traditional friendship between the two countries has seen significant achievements, expanded across multiple sectors, and been strengthened based on amity, equality, mutual respect and win-win cooperation for the benefit of both peoples. Highlights include frequent delegation exchanges and high-level meetings at multilateral forums and events attended by both nations.

Việt Nam and Egypt also regularly coordinate and support each other at regional and international platforms such as the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the African Union (AU). Việt Nam appreciates Egypt’s increasingly active and pivotal role in maintaining regional peace, stability and security. Both nations remain committed to serving as bridges for one another in enhancing cooperation with ASEAN and the Arab world, for the benefit of their peoples and for peace, cooperation, and development in both regions.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi (right) and Vietnamese President Lương Cường held a retreat prior to their official talks on August 5. — VNA/VNS Photo Lâm Khánh

In economic and trade cooperation, Egypt stands out as one of Việt Nam’s key trading partners and a promising market in Africa. Egypt was the first North African country to recognise Việt Nam as a full market economy (in November 2013). Bilateral trade reached US$541.36 million in 2024 – the highest among Việt Nam’s North African partners. The two sides see ample potential for collaboration, bilaterally and multilaterally, given their complementary strengths, large populations (each over 100 million), and strategically significant geographic locations.

Cultural cooperation also plays an important role in Việt Nam–Egypt relations. Joint cultural activities have been held regularly, including participation in festivals and events hosted by both countries. Increasing numbers of Vietnamese students are choosing to study Arabic in Egypt. This relationship enhances young people’s understanding of the friendship between the two peoples and strengthens cultural ties.

Local-level cooperation has also progressed, notably with the signing of a friendship and cooperation agreement between Việt Nam’s Ninh Bình Province and Egypt’s Luxor Province in August 2018, and a similar agreement between the capitals Hà Nội and Cairo in July 2023.

President Cường’s visit marks a significant milestone in the diplomatic ties between the two countries, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing relations, strengthening political trust and deepening the traditional friendship. It is expected to generate momentum and open a new chapter of cooperation between Việt Nam and Egypt.

Immediately following the welcoming ceremony, President Cường and President El-Sisi held a private meeting, followed by official talks between the two high-level delegations to discuss measures to further deepen and enhance the effectiveness of bilateral ties. — VNS

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi shakes hands with President Lương Cường held a retreat prior to their official talks on August 5. — VNA/VNS Photo Lâm Khánh