VGP  - Viet Nam and Ivory Coast have agreed on concrete measures to further deepen bilateral cooperation through fully tapping their potential and increasing exchange of delegations across channels. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Ivory Coast's Foreign
Minister Marcel Amon Tanoh after their talks at the Government Guest House in Ha Noi
on June 18, 2019. Photo: VGP

The agreement was made on Tuesday during the talks between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Ivory Coast’s Foreign Minister Marcel Amon Tanoh who is on first official visit to Viet Nam from June 18-22.

Both sides acknowledged the two-way trade has risen steadily over the past five years, reaching nearly US$ 1 billion in 2018 and agreed to further foster trade and investment promotion activities to economic ties.

The two countries also agreed to soon start talks on and sign cooperative documents, including agreements on investment encouragement and protection and double taxation avoidance to lay legal framework for operation of their investors.

Minh affirmed that Viet Nam always attaches importance to consolidating and enhancing friendship and cooperation with Ivory Coast – the second biggest trade partner of Viet Nam in Africa.

He extended thanks to Ivory Coast for having supported Vietnamese community of more than 300 people to live and work in the African country.

Meanwhile Marcel congratulated Viet Nam upon winning a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021 tenure with record number of positive votes.

He wished Viet Nam to assist Ivory Coast in such fields like agriculture, telecommunication, education and training among other, welcoming Vietnamese investors to his country.

The pair took the occasion to discuss on regional and international issues of common concerns, affirming their support for upholding multilateral cooperation, for settlement of disputes through peaceful means on the basis of international law.

They pledged to continue strengthening exchanges and coordination at multilateral forums, including the United Nations.

During his visit Foreign Minister Marcel Amon Tanoh will also visit some economic and cultural establishments./.