Global Diplomacy in Action: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chin Forges New Ties with Guinea-Bissau President in Historic Meeting
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh Meets with President of Guinea-Bissau
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was pleased to hear that President Umaro Sissoco Embalo had a very successful meeting with the Secretary-General and President. He expressed his confidence that the first visit by the Guinea-Bissau President to Vietnam will bring a breakthrough and open a new phase in the relations between Vietnam and Guinea-Bissau in the near future.
The Prime Minister congratulated Guinea-Bissau on its recent socio-economic development achievements and expressed hope that Guinea-Bissau will soon realize the goals of the Guinea-Bissau 2025 Strategy, thereby bringing the Guinea-Bissau nation to Bissau and further developing it and contributing effectively to the process of peace, security, cooperation and development in Africa.
The Guinea-Bissau President expressed gratitude to the Vietnamese leaders and people for their warm and friendly welcome to the delegation, expressed respect for Vietnam’s outstanding development achievements, and appreciated the role and wise leadership of the Vietnamese Party, State and Government. The President said that the Vietnamese Revolution and President Ho Chi Minh and General Vo Nguyen Giap have inspired the Guinea-Bissau people on the path to national liberation. Vietnam is a model for Guinea-Bissau to maintain stability, innovation and economic development.
Speaking on Vietnam’s situation, main development directions and foreign policy priorities, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that Vietnam cherishes the traditional friendship and cooperation with friendly African countries and continues to expand and develop these relations, and an important milestone is Vietnam’s official becoming an observer of the African Union in 2023.
The Vietnam-Guinea-Bissau cooperation relationship is also making positive progress based on three important fundamental elements: the foundation of political trust formed from the history of solidarity and mutual support in the previous national independence struggle; the economic foundation based on the similarity and complementarity of development conditions; and the policy of supporting and strengthening multilateral cooperation and South-South cooperation based on many similar values shared.
The two leaders discussed the direction of promoting cooperation in the future and agreed to work together to develop relations in the spirit of “true partnership, equality and mutual benefit” and to set expanding delegation exchanges as the three major priorities of political and diplomatic cooperation. Contacts at all levels; Coordination and support in multilateral forums. Mutual support for promoting cooperation at the regional level, with Guinea-Bissau supporting Vietnam to promote cooperation with the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and Vietnam acting as a bridge for cooperation between Guinea-Bissau and ASEAN, and its member states.
On this occasion, the Prime Minister welcomed Guinea-Bissau’s unilateral decision to exempt Vietnamese diplomatic and official passport holders from visa requirements, in order to promote exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.
Highly appreciating Vietnam’s experience and policies in macroeconomic management and successful international integration, the Guinea-Bissau President supported Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s proposal on priority solutions for economic cooperation.
Accordingly, the two countries will diversify their export items with cashew nuts as the main product and expand to other strong items such as rice, textiles, household goods, machinery and equipment. Promote the exchange of business delegations and increase market information and business cooperation and investment opportunities. Promote cooperation in the fields of agriculture, agro-forestry, fish and seafood processing, and coordinate and mobilize development partners and international organizations to participate in the implementation of the trilateral agricultural cooperation project, thereby contributing to ensuring food security and increasing exports in Guinea-Bissau. Strengthen cooperation and share experiences in the fields of medical and educational expert cooperation. Complete and deploy cooperation and negotiation mechanisms, sign agreements, and establish a favorable legal framework for bilateral cooperation.
On this occasion, the President of Guinea-Bissau would also like to welcome Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to Guinea-Bissau. The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to me and promised to take action at the appropriate time.