Post by : Meena Ariff

A new and important chapter has begun in the long-standing friendship between Vietnam and Egypt, as both countries officially agreed to upgrade their relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership. This decision was made during the recent State visit of Vietnamese President Lương Cường to Egypt, where he was warmly welcomed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

Warm Welcome in Cairo

The Vietnamese President and his wife were received with great respect and kindness in Cairo. A formal welcome ceremony was held at the Presidential Palace, followed by a private meeting and official talks between the two leaders.

President El-Sisi shared how the Egyptian people admired President Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam’s national hero, and respected Vietnam's great achievements in its journey of growth and development. He called the visit of President Cường an important milestone and said it opened a fresh page in the over 60-year-old diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Memories of Friendship and History

President Cường expressed his joy at visiting a country as old and beautiful as Egypt. He recalled how President Hồ Chí Minh had deep respect for Egypt and its people. He also carried with him warm greetings from the Vietnamese top leaders to the people and leadership of Egypt.

The Vietnamese President thanked Egypt for always maintaining friendly relations and highlighted how this visit aimed to build on the deep-rooted ties that had been developed by President Hồ Chí Minh, President Gamal Abdel Nasser, and other great leaders from both countries.

Upgrading to Comprehensive Partnership

In their official talks, both Presidents agreed to deepen cooperation in all fields — from trade and education to science, technology, culture, and tourism. They signed a joint statement to upgrade their bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Partnership, meaning both countries will now work more closely in many areas that matter to their people.

President El-Sisi said Egypt wants to be a gateway for Vietnamese goods to reach the Middle East and Africa, thanks to its location and free trade deals with many countries.

President Cường, in turn, said Vietnam is ready to open its market to certain Egyptian products, and asked Egypt to support the entry of Vietnamese goods into the Egyptian market. Officials from both sides will now complete the necessary steps to implement this agreement in line with global rules.

Trade, Tourism, and New Opportunities

To promote trade and investment, both leaders agreed to form a Working Group to study the possibility of a Vietnam–Egypt Free Trade Agreement. They also talked about boosting tourism, encouraging people-to-people exchanges, and strengthening education ties.

President Cường thanked Egypt for offering Arabic language scholarships to Vietnamese students and asked to expand this exchange. He proposed sharing knowledge in halal food industries, agriculture, museum management, and sustainable tourism.

Both leaders underlined the need to create a strong legal framework to support future cooperation.

Peacekeeping and Defense Cooperation

Vietnam and Egypt also agreed to expand defense cooperation. They signed a Letter of Intent on defense and an agreement between Vietnam’s Department of Peacekeeping Operations and Egypt’s Liaison Agency with International Organisations.

The defense ministries will work together in areas related to peacekeeping and defense education.

Support for Citizens Abroad

President Cường requested that the Egyptian government continue to support the Vietnamese community living, studying, and working in Egypt. He emphasized how these people serve as a bridge of friendship between the two nations.

Global Peace and Regional Issues

Both countries also shared their views on important international issues. President Cường praised Egypt’s efforts in working for peace in the Middle East, especially in helping solve the Palestinian conflict.

President El-Sisi thanked Vietnam for supporting the two-state solution, which he said is the only way to bring lasting peace to the region.

They also discussed the situation in the East Sea (also known as the South China Sea) and agreed that all disputes should be solved peacefully, with full respect for international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They stressed the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight in the region.

Working Together in the Future

Both leaders agreed to strengthen coordination and support each other in global meetings and international forums. They believe this partnership will help bring peace, development, and stability not only to their countries but also to the world.

At the end of the visit, President Cường invited President El-Sisi to visit Vietnam soon, and President El-Sisi gladly accepted the invitation.

Key Agreements Signed

Several important documents were signed in the presence of both Presidents, including:

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on economic cooperation between Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade and Egypt’s Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.
• An MoU on local development between Vietnam’s Ministry of Home Affairs and Egypt’s Ministry of Local Development.
• Agreements on defense, peacekeeping, finance, agricultural trade, and oil and gas exploration.

Ministers and business leaders from both countries also met and discussed future cooperation in various sectors.

This visit marks a new and exciting beginning for the relationship between Vietnam and Egypt. With stronger ties in trade, education, defense, and culture, both nations are moving forward together, aiming to create a better future for their people.