Sudan wants to enhance cooperation with Vietnam in the fields of economics, culture, education, security and defense, said Haj Ahmed El Gaili, the Chief of Joint Staff of the Sudanese Armed Forces in Hanoi August 21.
Haj Ahmed El Gaili headed a Sudanese military delegation to visit Vietnam from August 18. In Vietnam, he was received by Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Khac Nghien, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong, and Minister of National Defense Gen. Phung Quang Thanh.
At the meeting, Trong affirmed that Vietnam will create all favorable conditions for Vietnamese ministries, sectors and enterprises to effectively cooperate with Sudan’s partners, especially in agriculture as well as oil and gas exploitation and processing for mutual benefit.
Earlier Nghien, who is also the Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defense, said he hoped the visit by the Sudanese military delegation would contribute to promoting mutual understanding and the traditional friendship between the people and armies of the two countries.
Nghien and Haj Ahmed El Gaili exchanged views on the building of their armed forces as well as issues of mutual concern.
Sudan and Vietnam are both agricultural countries. Main export products of the African nation are crude oil and gas, petroleum products, cotton, sugar, and livestock, and its key imports include foodstuff, machinery, consumer goods, medicines, garment and textile.
Vietnam and Sudan established diplomatic ties in 1969. The two countries have already signed a framework agreement on economic, trade, cultural, science and technology cooperation in 1995, a memorandum of understanding between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs in 2003, and an agreement on agricultural cooperation in 2003.
Vietnam enjoys trade surplus from this African market. In 2004, the ASEAN nation exported $2 million worth of products to Sudan, while importing US$400,000 from the African country.
According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sudan is willing to allocate 15,600 ha for Vietnam to grow paddy, afforest, and grow fish and encourage Vietnam to exploit oil and gas in the country. Beside economic ties, Sudan also hopes for good relations between the Sudanese National Congress Party (SNCP) - its ruling party and the Vietnamese Communist Party. (Website of Government, Foreign Ministry)
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