Vietnam, Egypt aim to raise two-way trade to 1 billion USD

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son hosted a reception for Egyptian Ambassador to Vietnam Amal Abdel Kader Elmorsi Salama in Hanoi on July 7, during which the guest affirmed to do her utmost to create a breakthrough for the two countries' ties in order to raise bilateral trade to 1 billion USD as set by the nations' leaders.

At the meeting, Son stated that Vietnam attaches importance to traditional friendship and cooperation with Egypt, one of the first states in the Middle East and Africa to establish diplomatic ties with the Southeast Asian country.

He expressed his delight at the positive developments in relations between the two countries in recent times. Egypt is currently Vietnam's leading trading partner in North Africa, with trade turnover increasing year by year and hitting almost 600 million USD last year.