Vietnam, Uganda Vow to Expand Multifaceted Cooperation

Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Photo: VNA

The agreement was reached during talks in Hanoi on November 24 between Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who is in Hanoi for an official visit to Vietnam, VOV reported.

The two leaders considered agriculture a pillar of the bilateral cooperation, with priority given to ensuring national food security. Through multi-stakeholder cooperation models with the participation and funding of development partners such as the European Union and the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the two countries have increased cooperation in food production.

They shared the view that the two countries should expand cooperation to potential fields such as education-training, information and communication, defence-security, health, information technology, tourism, oil and gas exploitation, and vaccine research and production.

The leaders agreed to promote investment cooperation by increasing the exchange of information on the investment environment and opportunities and by supporting their businesses in boosting investment cooperation activities.

They consented to effectively implement the signed cooperation documents, and at the same time accelerate negotiations for early signing other important documents on investment promotion and protection, taxation or other fields in order to strengthen the legal framework and facilitate cooperation, especially in economy, between the two countries.

Despite the geographical distance, the two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Uganda last year reached US$14.3 million, representing an increase of 39.8% compared to the 2020 figure. Their investment also amounted to nearly US$40 million, mostly focusing on mining in Uganda.

At the talks between Vietnamese and Ugandan Presidents. Photo: VNA

During the talks, the two sides agreed to further promote close coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, especially the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), to serve as a bridge for each other to establish relations with regional organizations such as the East African Community (EAC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The two sides compared notes on regional and international issues of mutual concern, and shared views on solving problems by peaceful measures on the basis of international law.

Museveni invited his Vietnamese counterpart to pay an official visit to Uganda and attend the NAM 2023 summit. President Phuc accepted the invitation with pleasure.

After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of a number of cooperation documents, including an agreement on visa exemption for official and diplomatic passport holders, and four memoranda of understanding on cooperation in the fields of diplomacy, education, information and communication, and agricultural technology.

The same day, the Ugandan President met Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, during which the two sides concurred take the bilateral relationship into a new development period, matching the wish and potential of both sides, VietnamPlus said.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong receives Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Photo: Nhan dan (People) newspaper

Vietnam attaches importance to promoting its relations with African nations in general and Uganda in particular, Trong said, noting that huge space still remains for Vietnam and Uganda to boost their cooperation in all spheres.

The Vietnamese Party leader emphasised major orientations to beef up cooperation in politics, economy and culture between the two countries, and step up their mutual understanding and coordination at international forums.

Museveni expressed his wish for stronger cooperation between the two countries./.