President: Strengthening political trust between Vietnam and African countries is a solid foundation for expanding cooperation

Photo caption — *President Luong Cuong gives a directive speech. Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA*

The report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the working session said that Africa is a region that is considered a growth pole of the world in the coming decades with great room and potential to be exploited and promoted further. Vietnam currently has 8 diplomatic representative agencies covering a large area of 55 countries. Vietnam's foreign affairs activities in Africa have made positive progress in recent years and will continue to be promoted in the coming years. Many heads of state, senior leaders and leaders of regional countries have paid official visits and attended major events organized by Vietnam. This demonstrates the importance of Vietnam's position, prestige and potential as well as the desire of countries to promote relations with Vietnam.

The Ambassadors reported to the President and other members of the delegation on the situation in each working area, as well as the main features of the relationship between Vietnam and African countries; shared the difficulties and challenges that the representative agencies in the area have to go through in the context of different working environments, customs and practices, and complicated conflicts and epidemics in some places. Along with that, the Ambassadors also made specific proposals and recommendations to further strengthen and promote the relationship between Vietnam and countries in the region.

The Ambassadors expressed their confidence in the leadership, direction and foreign policies of the Party and State; at the same time, they pledged to uphold their sense of responsibility, make every effort together with the representative agencies to consolidate and further promote the relationship between Vietnam and African countries; and constantly strive to excellently fulfill the tasks assigned by the Party, State and people.

Speaking at the meeting, the President conveyed to the Ambassadors the warm greetings and regards of the Party and State leaders; welcomed the Ambassadors, despite being from far away locations, for arranging their time and work to attend this very meaningful meeting. Through the report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and listening to the opinions of the Ambassadors, the President highly appreciated the sense of responsibility, great efforts and determination of the Ambassadors and the Embassy staff in promoting Vietnam's relations with African friends; and congratulated the positive results that the representative agencies have achieved in the past time.

The President assessed that in recent years, the relationship between Vietnam and Middle Eastern and African countries has made clear progress, with high-level delegation exchanges taking place actively; and said that there is great room for cooperation and expanding Vietnam's interests in the region. The President said that this State visit to Africa, along with the recent visits by National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to Senegal and Morocco, conveys a message to African friends about Vietnam's determination to promote traditional friendship, create a breakthrough, and enter a new era with African countries, commensurate with the development needs and new mindset of both sides.

In that context, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, the President requested the Ambassadors to continuously update and closely follow the Party's foreign policies and guidelines, strongly and comprehensively implement major documents with orientations in the field of foreign affairs, especially Resolution 59-NQ/TW of the Politburo on international integration in the new situation; at the same time, promote research and strategic forecasting, proactively and promptly report and advise so as not to fall into a passive and surprised situation in the face of the complex and unpredictable developments of the current regional and international situation.

Emphasizing that Vietnam and African friends have a valuable asset of mutual support and assistance in the past struggle for national liberation, the President noted that the Ambassadors must continue to cultivate and consolidate political trust between Vietnam and African countries, considering this a solid foundation for expanding cooperation in other fields, demonstrating sincerity to enter a new stage of development together.

The President requested that the embassies pay close attention and be more proactive in community work and citizen protection, make every effort to help overseas Vietnamese, enhance the position of our community in the host country, and closely coordinate with local authorities in citizen protection and support for Vietnamese businesses. Along with that, the ambassadors and the staff of the representative agencies continue to unite, build a clean and strong internal force, uphold the spirit of overcoming difficulties, promote the sense of responsibility, be proactive and creative, and successfully complete the assigned political tasks.

The President affirmed that the Party and State always pay attention to and create all favorable conditions in terms of mechanisms and policies, meeting the conditions for serving work as well as taking care of the material and spiritual life of cadres and employees; ensuring the treatment regime for members of Vietnamese representative agencies abroad in accordance with the potential, position and economic conditions of the country in the new situation.

Source: https://vpctn.gov.vn/tin-tuc-su-kien/hoat-dong-cua-chu-pich-nuoc/chu-pich-nuoc-cung-co-tin-cay-chinh-tri-giua-viet-nam-va-cac-nuoc-chau-phi-la-nen-tang-vung-chac-de-mo-rong-hop-tac.html