Antananarivo (VNA) – The visit toMadagascar by a high-ranking delegation from the Vietnamese National Assemblywill contribute to tightening the bilateral relations and open up new cooperationopportunities between the two countries, especially in the field of economy.

President of Madagascar Hery Rajaonarimampianinamade the statement at a meeting with National Assembly Vice Chairman Phung QuocHien in Antananarivo on March 26.

He underlined the special traditional relationsbetween Vietnam and Madagascar through historical periods. 

The two countries have strengths and greatcooperation potentials in agricultural production, he said, adding thatMadagascar boasts vast cultivation land and abundant labour forces whileVietnam has experience and high agricultural technology.

The President called on Vietnamese enterprisesto invest in Madagascar and said the Economic Development Board of Madagascar(EDBM) will be responsible for promoting investment between the two countries.

For his part, Hien thanked Madagascar people fortheir valuable assistance for Vietnam in the cause of national liberation,building and development.

Vietnam always treasures its ties withMadagascar via promoting high-level delegation exchanges, he said, adding thatthis is the first time a high-ranking delegation from the National Assembly hasvisited Madagascar, which will mark a new milestone in the bilateraltraditional relations.

He also informed the outcomes of his earliermeetings with senior officials from Madagascar, including the top legislator,the minister of trade and consumption and the foreign minister.

The two sides affirmed the sound politicalrelations between Vietnam and Madagascar and mutual support at multilateralforums. They also reached consensus on a number of issues, includingcooperation potentials in various fields, particularly agriculture, seafood,telecommunication and education.

Regarding trade, Hien suggested the two sidesexchange commodities of their strengths. For example, Vietnam will export riceto Madagascar while importing cashew nuts and vanilla from the market. 

With strength in information-technology andtelecommunication, notably the military-run group Viettel which is investing inmany countries around the world, including African nations, there is a plentyof room for Vietnam and Madagascar to cooperate in this field, he said.

He also proposed a number of measures to promoteinvestment partnership such as signing agreements on double tax avoidance,inter-bank payment, and investment encouragement and protection.

The same day, NA Vice Chairman Hien met withMadagascan Prime Minister Olivier Mahafaly Solonandrasana, in which he informedthe host of Vietnam’s socio-economic development in the past time as well ascooperation potential for the two countries in various sectors, including thecollaboration between the two law-making bodies.

The Madagascan government leader said that the bilateral cooperation must beconcretised by the implementation of specific plans like the signing of a freetrade agreement between the two nations.

Earlier, the Vietnamese official had a meeting with Speaker of the Parliamentof Madagascar Jean Max Rakotomamonjy on March 23. Both sides reached consensuson bolstering parliamentary ties and considering the establishment of thefriendship parliamentarian group.

During their stay in Madagascar from March 23-27, Hien and the Vietnamesehigh-ranking delegation met with the President of the Senate, the DeputySpeaker of the Parliament, the Minister of Commerce and Consumption, the Ministerof Foreign Affairs and the Minister at the Presidency in charge of Agricultureand Livestock.

The delegation paid a floral tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at hisstatue in Antananarivo and visited the Vietnamese community in the country.-VNA