Hanoi (VNA) - Ahigh-ranking delegation of the National Assembly of Côte d'Ivoire led by its PresidentAdama Bictogo left Hanoi on June 16, successfully concluding their four-day officialvisit to Vietnam at the invitation of NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

This was the highest-leveldelegation and Bictogo was the first President of the Côte d’Ivoire NA to have visitVietnam in 48 years.

While in Vietnam, Bictogo laid a wreath at the Monument toHeroic Martyrs; visited President Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house in thePresidential Palace; paid a courtesy call to President Vo Van Thuong; met with PrimeMinister Pham Minh Chinh; attended an official welcome ceremony and held talkswith NA Chairman Hue, and joined an official banquet.

At the meetings, Bictogo suggested thetwo legislatures play a motivating role in further leveraging advantages invarious sectors such as agriculture. Vietnamese enterprises could establishcashew processing factories in Côte d'Ivoire while all possible support will beoffered to Vietnamese experts to train workforce in rice cultivation and mechanisationin the African country. He also mentioned the possibility of Côte d'Ivoire's import of mechanical products from Vietnam.

He called for Vietnam’sassistance in vocational training for young people of Côte d'Ivoire, particularlyin the fields of computer science, mechanics, and electronics, adding that bothsides should facilitate convenient travel between the two countries via establishingdirect flight routes.

Agreeing with Bictogo’s proposal, Hue affirmed that Vietnam is ready to serve as a bridge for Côted'Ivoire’s goods to penetrate the ASEAN and Asian markets, as well as work withCôte d'Ivoire to increase the import of cashew nuts, cotton, cocoa, andespecially to maintain and develop cooperative value chains in cashewcultivation, processing and export. Efforts will be made to boost informationexchange, trade promotion, investment, strengthen connections betweenassociations, businesses, and diversify products for exchange.

ꦰ Côted’Ivoire should expand the imports of products of Vietnam’s strength such asseafood, fertilizers, apparel, footwear, household appliances, constructionmaterials, electronics and machinery, he said.

Vietnam is readyto offer all possible support for Côte d’Ivoire enterprises to do business inthe Southeast Asian country and vice versa, Hue said, adding that to achieve this, cooperationin the banking sector is needed.

He urged Côte d’Ivoire topromptly respond to the draft Memorandum of Understanding on economic and tradecooperation and designate responsible authorities for the bilateral tradeagreement with Vietnam. He also asked for active negotiations toward thesigning of cooperation documents, thus creating a legal framework for economic,trade and investment activities.

Both sides vowed to facilitate exchangesbetween leaders, agencies and deputies of the two parliaments to share professionalexperience; monitor the effective implementation of international conventionsand agreements signed by the two governments; support and boost connectivityand coordination between enterprises, as well as provide all possibleassistance for businesses and citizens to do business stably in each nation.

♒ On regional and global issues of mutual concern, theyhighlighted the continued utilisation of close coordination mechanisms inmultilateral forums such as the United Nations, the Inter-Parliamentary Union(IPU), and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie (APF).

During the visit, the Côte d’Ivoire delegation held working sessionswith several Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities. They also visitedthe NA House in Hanoi and Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh province./.