Vietnam and Sierra Leone have agreed to boost cooperation inagricultural trading and research and exchange of experts in the field.

Theagreement was reached at talks in Hanoi on July 25 between DeputyMinister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu andSierra Leone Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forest and Food SecurityAli Mansaray.

The two sides also agreed to build a researchcentre for developing rice varieties in Sierra Leone with financialsupport from Egypt .

At the talks, Deputy Minister Thu saidVietnam sent agricultural expert Vo Tong Xuan to develop the riceresearch centre in Sierra Leone and will send an additional fiveexperts to the country in August to lay the groundwork for building acooperative programme on rice and seafood production between the twocountries.

For his part, Ali Mansaray confirmed that SierraLeone considered Vietnam as a top partner and it would createfavourable conditions for Vietnamese experts, as well as receive skilledVietnamese workers to the country.

He also said that SierraLeone would allow Vietnam to rent land for growing rice, vegetablesand industrial crops for export to European and African countries.

The country will also give priority to importing goods from Vietnam , he said./.