The Vietnam-Egypt Inter-Governmental Committee convened its third session in Hanoi on April 1 with the participation of a Vietnamese delegation, led by Trade Minister Truong Dinh Tuyen, and an Egyptian delegation, led by Minister of International Co-operation Fayza Aboulnaga.

Both sides exchanged information on their respective countries' economic development and put forward orientations and concrete measures to further promote bilateral co-operation in external affairs, economy, trade, agriculture, fisheries, public health, finance, taxation, banking, tourism and transport.

Fisheries co-operation, especially fishing in Lake Nasser in Egypt, was the main focus of the session.

The two sides also discussed bilateral ties in industry, post and telecommunications and information technology, culture and information, tertiary education and scientific research, sports and youth, construction, investment, oil and gas, ores and mining, the detection of landmines and unexploded ordnance and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Both sides agreed on the need to continue discussions for the signing of a tourism co-operation programme and a maritime agreement soon as well as promoting bilateral co-operation in food hygienic safety, plant and animal quarantine, agro-forestry planting and processing and making insecticide and veterinary medicine.

They also exchanged views on a draft memorandum of understanding on the co-operation between the State Bank of Vietnam and the Central Bank of Egypt.

To facilitate bilateral trade and investment ties, Vietnam proposed Egypt to soon ratify the double taxation avoidance agreement. (VNA)