Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held talks with Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ambassador Monica Juma in Ha Noi on December 3. 

Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh holds talks
with Kenya's Cabinet Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Trade Monica Juma in Ha Noi on December 2, 2019. Photo: VGP

 Minh spoke highly of Secretary Juma’s ongoing two-day visit to Viet Nam, which is also the first visit of a high-ranking official of Kenya to the Southeast Asian country.

He urged the Kenyan side to facilitate import of Vietnamese products like garment, rice, clinker, mobile phones, and electronic equipment.

Juma congratulated Viet Nam on its election as the non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the tenure 2020-2021.

Highly valuing Viet Nam’s socio-economic achievements, Juma said her country expects Viet Nam to share its development experience.

The two sides agreed that both countries should sign documents such as agreements on investment protection and encouragement, double taxation avoidance, and visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders in order to create a legal framework for bilateral cooperation.

Both sides also agreed to establish a political consultation mechanism between the two foreign ministries to identify and recommend potential cooperation areas to the two governments, ministries and agencies.

Minh praised the effective cooperation between the two countries at multilateral forums and welcomed Kenya’s active role in the East African Community (EAC).

He called on Kenya to continue support and close coordination with Viet Nam in the next two years as the country undertakes the role of UNSC non-permanent member.

Juma called for Viet Nam’s support for Kenya’s bid for UNSC non-permanent seat for 2021-2022 tenure.

The two sides also discussed on regional and international issues of common concerns, including the East Sea issue. They underlined the importance of peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation, and respect for international law.

The same day, Secretary Juma made a courtesy call on Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc./.