Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Saturday met with visiting President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló on September 7 (photo: VNA)

The two leaders agreed to foster relations based on a "sincere, equal, and mutually beneficial partnership." They identified three key priorities in political and diplomatic cooperation including increasing delegation exchanges and high-level contacts, coordinating and supporting each other at multilateral forums, and promoting regional cooperation.

Guinea-Bissau expressed support for Vietnam’s efforts to enhance ties with the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), while Vietnam offered to serve as a bridge between Guinea-Bissau and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its member countries.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed Guinea-Bissau’s unilateral decision to grant visa exemptions for holders of Vietnamese diplomatic and official passports, facilitating stronger exchanges and cooperation between the two nations.

President Embaló expressed appreciation for Vietnam’s expertise in macroeconomic management and international integration. He agreed with Prime Minister Chinh’s proposals for economic cooperation, which included diversifying export products, with cashew nuts as a primary focus, and expanding trade to include rice, textiles, household goods, machinery, electrical equipment, and seafood. Both leaders emphasized the importance of promoting business delegation exchanges, sharing market information, and exploring new opportunities for investment and cooperation.

They also discussed collaboration in agriculture, particularly in agricultural and seafood processing. The two countries will work together to mobilize support from development partners and international organizations for tripartite agricultural cooperation projects, helping Guinea-Bissau achieve food security and boost exports.

Additionally, both leaders agreed to enhance cooperation in healthcare and education, share expertise in these fields, and finalize agreements that will establish a solid legal framework for bilateral cooperation.