Addis Ababa, May.21(ENA)--Deputy prime minister and minister of agriculture and rural development Addisu Legesse met and held discussions with his Vietnams counter part Le Huy Ngo in Ha Noi on Friday on ways to further expand the two countries agricultural cooperation.

According to the Vietnamese News Agency (VNA), the two sides talked about the exchange of experts and cooperation in the farming technique on the growing of coffee, tropical vegetables and animal husbandry.

The agreed to work together to map out food security plan for Ethiopia and cooperate with the food and agriculture organization (FAO) to realize tripartite Ethiopia- FAO Vietnam cooperation programs, it said.

They also touched upon the possibilities of exporting Vietnamese farm produce to Ethiopia.

At the talks, Ngo said cooperation between Vietnam and Ethiopia in the fields of economy, commerce, culture and technology and science has not yet matched their potential.

He said he hoped that the visit of the Ethiopian leader will give anew impetus to further development of relations between Vietnam and Ethiopia in general and between the two ministers in particular.

Vietnam and Ethiopia established diplomatic relations in 1976, but the two sides have not yet set up direct economic and commercial relations.

Vietnam’s export earnings to Ethiopia reached 270,000 USD last year while those of Ethiopia to Vietnam were 260,000 USD.

Addisu arrived in Vietnam on Thursday for a six day working visit at the invitation of Vietnam’s agriculture and rural development minister Le HUy Ngo, VNA reported.

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