Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn (r) receives Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Augustine Mahiga in Hà Nội on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo Lâm Khánh

HÀ NỘI — Generations of Vietnamese leaders have attached importance to cooperative relations with Tanzania who supported Việt Nam during the struggle for national independence, said Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn.

During a talk with Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Augustine Mahiga in Hà Nội on Thursday, Deputy FM Sơn spoke highly of his guest’s visit to Việt Nam, saying that this is a good opportunity for both countries to bolster bilateral collaboration and enhance coordination at multilateral forums, helping to deepen cooperative relations.

The Tanzanian diplomat expressed his admiration for Việt Nam’s impressive achievements in national construction and development. Regarding the East Sea issue, Minister Mahiga said that he supports the settlement of all disputes by peaceful means, ensuring freedom of navigation and respecting international regulations.

He also described ASEAN as a successful model for regional cooperation that African countries should follow.

During the talks, both diplomats agreed to strengthen bonds between the Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV) and the Chama Cha Mapinduzi ruling party, saying that this will contribute to consolidating political trust between the two nations. More delegation exchanges should be made at all levels and twin relations set up between Vietnamese and Tanzanian localities, they added.

Besides suggesting that Tanzania open a representative office in Việt Nam, Deputy FM Sơn also recommended opening a trade office in each country to facilitate connections among enterprises.

Furthermore, they pledged to support each other at the United Nations and other international organisations of which Việt Nam and Tanzania are members.

Deputy FM Sơn took the occasion to thank Tanzania for supporting Việt Nam’s candidacy as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-21 tenure.

Augustine Mahiga said that he will work to foster relations between Việt Nam and East Africa, as well as the African Union (AU).

Meanwhile, Sơn said that Việt Nam stands ready to facilitate the flow of Tanzanian goods and services to break into the ASEAN market.

Sơn and his Tanzanian guest lauded the initial achievements in investment cooperation between the two countries with the successful operation of Halotel, a member of the Viettel Group in Africa. Augustine Mahiga stressed the firm’s significant contributions to economic development and locals’ livelihoods.

They were unanimous in creating favourable conditions for trade exchanges with a view to increasing two-way trade revenue to US$1 billion, as set by leaders of the two countries. Therefore, they supported the simplification of customs procedures, trade promotion, market research, and the establishment of a rational payment mechanism for import-export activities.

Measures to step up collaboration in other potential sectors like defence-security and agriculture-seafood were also discussed.

On the same day, the Tanzanian diplomat met Acting Minister of Information and Communications Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng. The two sides agreed to study to expand cooperation in the field of information and communications, particularly in supporting Tanzania in information and technology development. — VNS