Algiers (VNA)  - Vietnamese Ambassador to Algeria NguyenThanh Vinh has highlighted the time-honoured, friendly relationship betweenVietnam and Algeria, on the occasion of the 58th anniversary of thebilateral diplomatic ties (October 28).

He told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) that Vietnamwas one of the first countries to recognise the Provisional Government of theAlgerian Republic in 1958.

Over the past nearly six decades, the bilateralrelations have been tightened, with the exchange of high-level visits, and theestablishment of cooperation mechanisms such as the Vietnam-AlgeriaInter-governmental Committee and political consultation.

The two countries have also offered visa exemptionto diplomatic and official passport holders, and visa fee exemption to citizensof each other, he said, adding that friendship parliamentarians’ groups andpeople’s associations have also been established with diverse activities.

Vietnam and Algeria have signed 12 agreements and 20cooperation documents in diplomacy, economy-trade, science-technology, culture,sports, tourism, justice, post office-telecommunications, animal quarantine andhygiene, maritime transport, education, vocational training, finance andagriculture.

They have also supported each other at internationalforums, according to the ambassador.

Two-way trade reached 193 million USD last year, hesaid, commending the bilateral collaboration in oil and gas, and labour export.

With the fine political ties and resolve ofVietnamese and Algerian leaders to advance the bilateral relations, themulti-faceted cooperation between the two countries, particularly ineconomy-trade and labour export, would grow further, Vinh continued.

He advised Vietnamese firms to study Algeria’s tradeand investment policies as well as its culture and religions, and seek partnersbefore deciding to run business in the African country.

Vinh also suggested the two sides share experiencein economic development, international economic integration and anti-terrorism,while intensifying and diversifying exchanges between businesses, researchers,scientists, students and residents in economy, culture, science-technology, sports,tourism and health care./.