While receiving Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Huu Dung on October 17, President Jose Ramos-Horta praised Vietnam’s achievements in agricultural production and expressed his country’s desire to learn about Vietnam’s experience in the field. 

Ambassador Dung conveyed the Vietnamese leaders’ regards to his host and briefed him on difficulties and challenges Vietnam is facing in the current global food and financial crisis. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Government and people want to increase cooperation with East Timor for mutual benefit.

At another reception for Mr Dung the same day, Prime Minister Sanana Gusmao spoke highly of the two countries’ great potential for bilateral cooperation in energy and food security. He praised Vietnam’s experience in rice production and said his country is planning to send students to Vietnam to study agricultural production.