Vietnam, Egypt elevate relationship to comprehensive partnership

In their meeting in Cairo on Tuesday, President Cuong and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah ElSisi welcomed the significant recent advances in bilateral relations.

President ElSisi highlighted that this visit marks a historic milestone and ushers in a new era of cooperation between the two countries, which share over six decades of diplomatic engagement.

Both leaders emphasized the vast potential for collaboration as each nation represents a major market of more than 100 million people and holds strategic geopolitical importance.

They affirmed that the upgraded partnership will unlock this potential by making cooperation more efficient and sustainable.

They were committed to expanding cooperation in trade, investment, industry, and agriculture, while venturing into new areas such as innovation, science and technology, green transition, and digital transformation.

Under the new partnership, President Cuong stated that Vietnam will open its market to select Egyptian goods, while encouraging Egypt to facilitate access for Vietnamese exports.

Egypt stands out as one of Vietnam’s most important trade partners and a promising market in Africa, with bilateral trade reaching over US$541 million in 2024, the highest among Vietnam’s North African partners.

President ElSisi emphasized Egypt’s strategic position at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, and its extensive network of free-trade agreements, positioning it as an effective gateway for Vietnamese businesses targeting Middle Eastern and African markets.

The two leaders also agreed to establish a working group to explore a potential Vietnam–Egypt free trade agreement, pledging to deepen cooperation in education, tourism promotion, and cultural exchanges.

In addition, they discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern.

President Cuong expressed his appreciation for Egypt’s role as a mediator in seeking solutions to the Middle East conflicts.

Regarding the East Vietnam Sea issue, both leaders emphasized their advocacy for the peaceful resolution of any dispute based on international law, including the UN Charter and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

President Cuong formally invited President ElSisi to visit Vietnam, and the invitation was warmly accepted.

Following their talks, the leaders witnessed the signing of several key cooperation documents, and co-hosted a press conference to present the joint statement on the comprehensive partnership and outline the outcomes of their discussions.