CAIRO — Việt Nam and Egypt have issued a joint statement during the State-level visit to Egypt by President Trần Đại Quang and his spouse from Saturday to Tuesday at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.

The joint statement said President Quang held talks with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, and met with Speaker of the House of Representatives Ali Abdel Aal and Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.

During the talks, the two State leaders discussed in depth bilateral, regional and international issues of common concern.

The two leaders affirmed that President Quang’s visit is an important landmark in bilateral ties on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the countries’ bilateral diplomatic relationship.

They expressed the belief that the outcomes of the first visit by a Vietnamese President will help consolidate political trust, expand co-operation in trade, investment, agriculture, education and training, and promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

The leaders agreed to increase the exchange of all-level delegations through the channels of their governments, parliaments, localities, people and businesses, while optimising existing cooperative mechanisms such as the inter-governmental committee and political consultation, thus strengthening their strategic trust.

They expressed satisfaction at the two countries’ sound co-operation at regional and international forums such as the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, the African Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), particularly their support of each other in running for seats in UN agencies.

Egypt valued Việt Nam’s candidacy to be a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2020-21 term.

The two sides called on the international community to join hands to prevent and settle armed conflicts by peaceful measures in line with the UN Charter and international law.

The Egyptian side appreciated Việt Nam’s backing of Egypt’s joining the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Co-operation. The country pledged to support Việt Nam in increasing co-operation with Africa and to work as a bridge between Việt Nam and the African Union.

The two leaders agreed to continue to promote bilateral ties in the fields of trade and investment, and committed to creating all possible favourable conditions for their businesses to access each other’s markets.

To soon achieve the goal of US$1 billion in bilateral trade, the leaders held that the two countries should take synchronous measures, including advocating liberalisation and facilitation of trade and investment, supporting a rule-based, fair and inclusive multilateral trade system in which the World Trade Organisation plays the central role.

They agreed to increase the exchange of business delegations and the sharing of information, and to hold regular trade fairs and exhibitions, while seeking business and investment opportunities in new fields such as garment-textiles, leather shoes, manufacturing mechanics, consumer goods, food processing, among others.

The two sides highly valued bilateral cultural co-operation and agreed to early organise cultural days/week and exchanges in their respective countries. The two leaders witnessed the signing of several co-operation deals between their ministries, agencies and localities.

Discussing in depth regional and international issues, the two sides held that peace and stability in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa or any other regions in the world are essential for human kind’s development and prosperity.

They vowed readiness to work together for progress and prosperity of their respective regions.

The two sides affirmed the importance of international cooperation in fighting terrorism, which is a common threat to peace-loving nations.

They supported seeking peaceful solutions to the crises in several Middle Eastern countries to ensure those countries’ unification.

The two leaders reiterated support of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and the need for peaceful negotiation in order to reach a fair, comprehensive and final agreement for the Palestine issue on the basis of the two-State solution and the borderline before 1967 with East Jerusalem being the capital of the State of Palestine.

The two sides reiterated the wish and resolve to maintain a sea order in accordance with principles of international law as expressed in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. — VNS