50 years of Vietnam-Angola relations: Comradeship, understanding and mutual benefit

Those are the three words that Vietnamese Ambassador to Angola Duong Chinh Chuc used to describe the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Angola over the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations on November 12, 1975.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Angola Duong Chinh Chuc. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Angola, Vietnamese Ambassador to Angola Duong Chinh Chuc gave an interview to The Gioi va Viet Nam Newspaper, emphasizing the special milestone and sharing future expectations for bilateral relations.

How does the Ambassador assess the significance of the five-decade milestone since Vietnam and Angola established diplomatic relations on November 12, 1975, just one day after Angola declared independence?

The year 2025 has special significance for both Vietnam and Angola. Vietnam celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day, the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2; while Angola celebrates the 50th anniversary of its independence (November 11, 1975 - November 11, 2025).

Both countries have deep feelings and send congratulations on each other's major holidays. Notably, in that joyful atmosphere, Angola welcomed President Luong Cuong for a State visit in August 2025, marking another milestone to make 2025 even more meaningful.

As the two countries' senior leaders made clear during President Luong Cuong's visit, Vietnam's recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations with Angola, just one day after Angola declared independence, shows Vietnam's support and solidarity for Angola's revolutionary cause.

President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço and National Assembly President Carolina Cerqueira emphasized that Angola was moved and grateful for Vietnam's wholehearted support, and highly appreciated Vietnam's establishment of a representative office in Angola even during the most difficult times.

During the meetings, the Angolan leaders emphasized that many Angolan officials and people had been taught by Vietnamese teachers and treated by Vietnamese doctors. The image of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh is always deep in the hearts of the Angolan people. Therefore, developing relations and cooperation with Vietnam is the common will of the people and all political parties of Angola.

2025 is a meaningful and memorable year for the people of the two countries, an important milestone opening a new page of development history.

President Luong Cuong and his wife and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation took a group photo with delegates at the ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Angola diplomatic relations in the capital Luanda on August 7. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

If we could choose three words to describe the traditional Vietnam-Angola friendship over the past 50 years, what would they be?

I think that if we were to summarize the relationship between the two countries in three words, they would be comradeship, understanding and mutual benefit.

50 years of relations are 50 years of trust and mutual support, stemming from the same ideals of independence, self-reliance, and socialism, with people at the center, giving each other respect and sincere support, especially deep feelings for the leaders of the two countries. This is comradely love.

The two sides have had deep understanding, developed relationships and cooperation, and provided each other with timely and appropriate support without needing to persuade or persuade. This is understanding.

The two sides promote cooperation without profit, for the common interests of the two peoples, without entering into any agreements or relationships that harm or affect the other side. This is mutually beneficial.

According to the Vietnam-Angola Joint Statement during President Luong Cuong’s State visit to Angola last August, the two sides are determined to build a cooperative partnership for mutual development, aiming to become a model for South-South cooperation. According to the Ambassador, what should the two sides do in the coming time to concretize the results of the visit and implement the content of the Joint Statement?

The Vietnam-Angola Joint Statement, adopted by the leaders of the two countries during the State visit of President Luong Cuong, is an important document, defining the vision and major orientation for bilateral relations, and setting out specific goals in each field of cooperation in the coming time.

To realize the visions and tasks set out, relevant agencies of both sides must coordinate continuously, closely and effectively, especially in the economic and legal fields.

First of all, the two sides need to maintain high-level and all-level contacts to strengthen trust and understanding, creating a favorable political environment for promoting cooperation in various fields. Contact forms are very diverse, including visits and meetings on the occasion of international and regional conferences, direct and online exchanges between ministries, branches and localities.

Next , the two sides need to promote economic cooperation and other fields with specific, practical measures in policy and technology. At the same time, it is necessary to create conditions for businesses and experts of the two countries to meet and exchange directly through survey trips and seminars, as well as gradually remove the biggest obstacles in trade and investment today, which are transportation and payment mechanisms.

Furthermore, the two countries need to continue to improve the legal environment to ensure security and safety for people and business assets of each side. In particular, it is necessary to soon sign the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, and agreements on payment and currency. In addition, simplifying visa procedures and residence management is also necessary to promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

Passing the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations, based on the orientation of the two countries' senior leaders, according to the Ambassador, what will be the vision of Vietnam-Angola relations in the coming period?

Currently, Vietnam and Angola maintain a traditional partnership. In the coming time, the two countries need to aim to upgrade their relationship.

With the position in the region, the potential of the relationship as well as the determination of the leaders of the two countries based on the Joint Statement, I believe that the two countries can promote towards the level of Strategic Partnership in the next few years. Relevant agencies need to coordinate to determine the content, goals and specific implementation mechanisms.

Vietnam and Angola can absolutely play a central role in each region, promoting cooperation between ASEAN, Asia with the African Union (AU) and other mechanisms, contributing to maintaining and consolidating peace, stability, and promoting mutually beneficial development cooperation.

President Luong Cuong, his wife and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation laid wreaths at the memorial stele of President Ho Chi Minh on Ho Chi Minh Avenue in the capital Luanda, Angola.

In the capital city of Luanda, there is an avenue named after Ho Chi Minh, demonstrating the special affection of the Angolan people for President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam. How do you feel about the affection of the Angolan people for Vietnam? According to you, what should future generations do to continue to "keep the fire" of friendship and practically promote it in the socio-economic development of each country?

Although Ho Chi Minh Avenue is not the only avenue named after famous people or foreign leaders, it is the most beautiful avenue in the capital Luanda, where many important agencies are located, especially the headquarters of the MPLA Party and the statue of Angolan leader António Agostinho Neto. Angolan leaders affirmed that the naming of the street was carefully considered and not random.

The Angolan government and the Luanda capital city government have always paid attention to taking care of the commemorative stele naming Ho Chi Minh Avenue, and right before the visit of President Luong Cuong, the Luanda government organized a large-scale renovation to show their respect.

This is also proof that the “flame” of Vietnam-Angola friendship has been fueled over the years. To keep that “flame” burning brighter, the next generations need to try harder.

First of all , it is necessary to maintain a correct awareness of comradeship, the importance of preserving and developing relations between the two countries, as well as giving each other certain priorities.

Second , it is necessary to persevere in promoting bilateral cooperation, find measures to overcome obstacles, and further develop economic cooperation commensurate with the level of good political relations between the two countries.

Third , it is necessary to promote people-to-people exchanges in various forms, carry out many activities to introduce and promote each other's countries and people, thereby consolidating and deepening mutual understanding and trust.

Thank you very much, Ambassador!

President Luong Cuong, his wife and the high-ranking delegation took a photo with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Angola.

"50 years of Vietnam-Angola relations are 50 years of trust and mutual support, stemming from the same ideals of independence, self-reliance, moving towards socialism, taking people as the center, giving each other respect and sincere support, especially deep feelings for the leaders of the two countries."

Vietnamese Ambassador to Angola Duong Chinh Chuc

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/50-nam-quan-he-viet-nam-angola-dong-chi-hieu-biet-va-cung-co-loi-334093.html