Hanoi (VNA) – Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man on September 7 met visiting President of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Sissoco Embaló in Hanoi.

Man stressed that Embaló’s Vietnam visit from September 5-8 is the first delegation exchange at the head of state level between the two countries since they established diplomatic ties in 1973, and expressed his belief that it will significantly contribute to consolidating and developing the bilateral traditional friendship.

The top legislator noted his wish that Guinea-Bissau will successfully organise its parliamentary election on November 24, creating new momentum for the country to grow further in the time ahead.

Embaló stressed that Vietnam is an example for Guinea-Bissau to follow in not only the past struggle for national liberation, but also poverty reduction at present.

The President noted that the visit demonstrates the resolve to deepen and advance the bilateral relationship to a new height, and step up closer and more effective cooperation between the two countries. Man affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, NA and Government always attach importance and wish to promote the friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with traditional friends in Africa, including Guinea-Bissau.

He suggested the two countries enhance delegation exchange at all levels and in all the Party, State, and NA channels, as well as people-to-people exchange.

Pointing out that the two-way trade has yet to match the potential and desire of both sides, the Vietnamese NA leader said they should foster collaboration in economy and trade by boosting the exports and imports of such products as rice, cashew nuts, garment-textile materials, footwear, and agro-forestry-fisheries, which are of their strength and desire, while expanding cooperation to others like agricultural and aquatic processing, health care, education-training, and sea-based economy.

The two legislatures need to forge cooperation and promote the role of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening the relations between the two countries, he continued.

Apart from delegation exchange and experience sharing, they should intensify coordination in supervising the implementation of agreements reached by the two countries, step up meetings and coordination at international parliamentary forums, support each other in regional and international issues of shared concern, and send delegates to multilateral events hosted by each side, Man said.

The Vietnamese NA is ready to consider building and promoting relations with the Pan-African Parliament and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, the leader continued.

He asked the President to convey his invitation to the President of the National People's Assembly of Guinea-Bissau to pay an official visit to Vietnam to seek ways to beef up the bilateral legislative ties.

Man said he believes that the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Guinea-Bissau as well as its legislative ties in particular will be consolidated and grow further, for the sake of their people, and for peace, stability, and prosperity in each region and the world.

✃ Embaló said after the parliamentary election, Guinea-Bissau will establish a friendship parliamentarians’ group between the two countries./.