President Bio set to sign more bilateral agreements with the Government of Vietnam

On February 17th, 2022, the High Commissioner of Sierra Leone to Nigeria, His Excellency Rupert Sydney Duwo Davies and the Vietnamese Ambassador to Nigeria H. E. Luong Quoc Thin had a fruitful bilateral engagement at the Sierra Leone High Commission located on Plot 308 Diplomatic Drive in Abuja.

During their engagement, the Ambassador of Vietnam who is also accredited to the Republic of Sierra Leone, discussed potential areas of bilateral ties, and the expansion of existing diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The Vietnamese Ambassador disclosed that the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has extended an official invitation to his Excellency the President Dr. Julius Maada Bio to visit Vietnam from the 14th to 20th March 2022.

The Vietnamese Ambassador stated that President Bio’s visit to Vietnam will have an itinerary of several diplomatic engagements including the signing of bilateral agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with specific lined ministries in different fields between the two countries.

These activities may include the signing of bilateral Agreements for the Promotion and Protection of Investment, Agreement of Economic, Commercial, Culture, Scientific and Technological Cooperation, General Agreement for Scientific and Technical Cooperation, Agreement on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports.

Also expected in this diplomatic package would be a Memorandum of Understanding to be signed between the Sierra Leone Ministry of Agriculture and the Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on bilateral cooperation in the field of Agriculture.

The Ambassador also revealed that a Memorandum of Understanding between the Sierra Leone Ministry of Marine Resources and its Vietnamese counterpart and a bilateral cooperation in the field of fisheries and another in the area of political Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and Sierra Leone would be expected to be signed.

On his part, High Commissioner Rupert Davies welcomed his counterpart before assuring him of sustaining existing bilateral relationship and disclosed plans for expanding on more cooperation for mutual interests.

High commissioner Davies, on behalf of the President and Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone, reassured Ambassador Luong Quoc Thin that the proposals for the signing of bilateral Agreements and MoUs’ are essential pathways for development adding that it will contribute to the actualization of President Bio’s core development priorities.

Also present at the meeting were the Deputy High Commissioner Miss Anna Moussa and the Head of Chancery Mohamed Sorie Conteh.