Talking to Singaporean Ambassador Jaya Ratnam, Phuc highlighted the two countries’ fruitful cooperation, especially in trade and investment, since his official visit as the Prime Minister of Vietnam to the island-city state in April 2018.
Ambassador Jaya Ratnam told his host that though 2021 was a year full of difficulties for both countries and the world, the two sides have maintained close relations through high-level talks. Singapore’s investment in Vietnam’s industrial parks hit US$14 billion, and the two nations offered mutual support in health care, including in COVID-19 vaccine and medical supplies.He pledged his best efforts to push up bilateral ties, particularly in economy, trade, investment, defence, and security.
President Phuc hailed the coordination among the countries’ agencies, ministries, and sectors to further strengthen the Vietnam - Singapore strategic partnership and work towards the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2023.
He suggested the two sides maintain all-level mutual visits, restore commercial flights, bolster defence cooperation, consider new cooperation areas like defence industry, search and rescue, and promote collaboration in human resources development.
The host leader also thanked Singapore for its precious and timely assistance for Vietnam in the pandemic fight, calling for mutual recognition of “vaccine passports” and favourable conditions for each other’s people and businesses to travel and do business.
Meeting with outgoing Ambassador of Egypt Mahmoud Hassan Nayel, President Phuc praised his guest’s contributions to the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
He went on to say that Vietnam always treasures the long-standing bilateral relations, noting even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the two countries have fostered ties in a variety of fields, including trade which surged from over US$491 million in 2019 to US$515 million in 2020. They have also consistently supported each other at international and regional forums.
Ambassador Mahmoud Hassan Nayel thanked relevant agencies of Vietnam for their great support for his embassy to fulfill duties, adding that he always views Vietnam as his second homeland.
He voiced his hope that bilateral trade will continue to be enhanced and high-level mutual visits resumed.Sharing the diplomat’s view on the huge potential of their countries’ cooperation, President Phuc asked the two sides to intensify high-level delegation exchanges and meetings, as well as those between ministries, sectors, and enterprises to tighten links.
They should also work together to hold the 6th meeting of the Vietnam - Egypt Inter-governmental Committee in 2022; actively implement the signed agreements such as the investment facilitation and protection agreement, the memorandum of understanding on rice trade between the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and the Egyptian Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade, and the cooperation memorandum between the MoIT and the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources; and promote partnership in education - training, tourism, and agriculture, according to the President.
He expressed his hope that after returning to Egypt, Mahmoud Hassan Nayel will continue supporting the countries’ relations toward stronger development in a multitude of fields.
In response, the Egyptian ambassador pledged more contribution to bilateral ties, especially when his nation is the host of the UN Climate Change Conference 2022 (COP27), which will give both sides many chances for broader cooperation in climate change-related issues.
