During talks held between Lowassa and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung in Ha Noi on Sept. 5, the Tanzanian PM called on Vietnamese businesses to invest and set up joint ventures in Tanzania in farm produce production and processing, garments and textiles, tourism, as well as natural gas.

PM Lowassa extended his congratulation on the success of the 10th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam. He expressed his belief that the Vietnamese people would continue to make greater achievements in all fields under the leadership of the new leaders.

The Tanzanian government leader expressed his admiration of Viet Nam's struggle for independence and freedom over the past, as well as the important accomplishments made by the Vietnamese people during the country's renewal process and its current cause for national construction and development. He described Viet Nam as a bright example for developing countries and African countries, particularly Tanzania.

He also spoke highly of Viet Nam's role and position in the region, as well as in the Non-aligned movement and the world.

For his part, PM Dung highlighted the Tanzanian PM's visit to Viet Nam as an affirmation of the fine relations between the two countries. He said the visit served as a motivation in further boosting the traditional ties and growing multi-faceted cooperation between Viet Nam and Tanzania.

PM Dung affirmed that the 10th Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam was resolved to continue implementing the policy of diversifying and multilateralising international relations and attaching importance to consolidating and developing the relationship with traditional friendly countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. He said the relationship with Tanzania always occupies an important place in Viet Nam's foreign policy.

The Vietnamese PM said he was moved by PM Edward Lowassa's and the Tanzanian people's support for Viet Nam in its past struggle for national independence as well as in the current national development.

PM Dung congratulated the Tanzanian counterpart on his election to a position of noble responsibility. He also congratulated Tanzania for its success in maintaining political stability that has helped it to develop its economy and raise the country's position in the region as well as the international arena.

The two prime ministers expressed their satisfaction with the development of the traditional friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and Tanzania. They also exchanged ideas on directions and measures to diversify cooperation aspects and forms, especially the tripartite cooperation between Viet Nam, Tanzania and a sponsor who is a developed country or an international organisation, so as to raise the relationship to a new level of development and meet the interests and aspirations of the two countries' people.
PM Dung suggested the Tanzanian government consider the opening of a representative office in Viet Nam as soon as possible to boost the exchange of information on bilateral cooperation to a regular basis and in an effective way.
PM Lowassa said Tanzania would open a representative office immediately when its financial conditions permit.

The Vietnamese government leader expressed thanks for Tanzania's strong support for Viet Nam's candidacy of a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2008-09 term as well as its bid for the World Trade Organisation membership.

He said he strongly believed that the two countries would reach consensus with each other at international forums.

Both agreed to facilitate exchanges of visits and information at ministerial, industrial, and enterprise levels so as to reach concrete agreements of cooperation, especially in production, farm produce processing, textiles and garment making, and tourism.

PM Lowassa invited PM Dung to visit Tanzania and received Dung's immediate acceptance.(VNA)