Vietnam - Angola: Solid foundation, promising future

Photo caption — Vietnamese Ambassador to Angola Duong Chinh Chuc (documentary photo).

Here is the interview content:

Dear Ambassador, looking back at the 50-year journey of Vietnam-Angola diplomatic relations (1975-2025), can you assess the outstanding achievements in bilateral cooperation? Which milestones do you think are the most important, especially in the context of the two countries going through the same stages of fighting for independence and building the country?

The past half-century is a vivid testament to the strong friendship between the two nations, with the same desire for independence, peace and development. On November 12, 1975 - just one day after President Agostinho Neto declared independence (November 11, 1975) - Vietnam recognized and established diplomatic relations with Angola. That is 50 years of steadfastness, accompanying each other through all challenges.

In terms of politics and foreign affairs, the relationship between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) has always been a solid pillar. Most recently, the Cooperation Agreement for the period 2024-2029 has affirmed the determination to bring bilateral relations to a new height. High-level visits have taken place regularly, with the visit of then President Tran Duc Luong in 2002, the visit of then General Secretary Nong Duc Manh in 2008, the visit of then Minister of Public Security To Lam in 2023 and most recently the State visit of President Luong Cuong in August 2025. On the Angolan side, there were also visits by President José Eduardo dos Santos (1987), Vice President Manuel Vicente (2012), Foreign Minister Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti (April 2017), Head of the MPLA Party's Foreign Affairs Committee Manuel Augusto (August 2024) and most recently, Attorney General Hélder Fernando Pitta Gróz attended the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention on Cybercrime in Hanoi (October 25-27, 2025).

Internationally, the two countries work closely at the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the African Union, contributing to raising the voice of developing countries. Currently, with President João Lourenço’s role as rotating chair of the African Union (AU) from February 2025, Angola is promoting ASEAN-AU cooperation, opening up new space for bilateral relations.

In terms of economy and investment, recent years have seen a clear change. Trade turnover is on track to exceed the 270 million USD mark, striving to reach 1 billion USD as the leaders of the two countries committed during the visit of President Luong Cuong. Agriculture has emerged as a key sector because this is a field of strength for Vietnam and the Angolan Government prioritizes the recovery of domestic production to reduce dependence on exports. The 7th session of the Intergovernmental Committee (March 2024) after many years of interruption has determined a new direction, while Xuan Thien Group - the first Vietnamese enterprise to invest in Angola - has pioneered investment in large projects in energy, agriculture, finance and infrastructure - marking a substantial and mutually beneficial milestone.

The naming of Ho Chi Minh Avenue in the center of Luanda - where many of Angola's headquarters are located - is not only a political event but also an eternal symbol of Vietnam - Angola friendship.

Over the past 50 years, what outstanding achievements have been made in economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and Angola? How does the Ambassador assess the potential for expanding bilateral trade in the coming time?

Frankly speaking, economic cooperation is still modest, not commensurate with the solid political foundation. However, the two countries have built an important legal framework: Trade Agreement (1978, renewed in 2008), Framework Agreement on Economic - Scientific - Technical - Cultural Cooperation (2008), along with protocols in agriculture, oil and gas, fisheries, construction, education. The average turnover is about 200 million USD/year, mainly raw goods: rice, textiles, coffee from Vietnam; wood, liquefied gas from Angola.

Recently, the picture has changed positively thanks to Angola's economic diversification, reducing dependence on oil, prioritizing agriculture and processing industry; the 7th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee (March 2024) identified more than 20 new areas of cooperation; and the Vietnam-Angola Joint Statement after the visit of President Luong Cuong (August 2025) created a breakthrough momentum.

Vietnamese enterprises are increasingly interested in the Angolan market. A typical example is the Xuan Thien Group of Vietnam with large-scale projects. The Vietnamese Entrepreneurs Association in Angola (established in June 2024) has become a reliable bridge, supporting domestic enterprises to access opportunities. The Embassy continuously receives requests for advice on the market and projects.

In general, over the past half century, Vietnam-Angola economic and trade cooperation has continuously expanded, from commodity exchange to investment and technical assistance, creating a solid foundation for a new stage of development after the State visit in 2025.

Based on current achievements, we can envision a future picture of economic cooperation between the two countries with great potential, with agriculture as the spearhead: implementing pilot planting projects, processing agricultural products for domestic use and export. Expanding to infrastructure, energy, minerals, healthcare, education, and solving transportation and logistics bottlenecks. Vietnam's support for Angola to diversify its economy is not only a cooperation but also a commitment of trust. Angola will be the gateway for Vietnamese enterprises to reach out to West and South Africa. Vietnam can also participate in the United Nations' multilateral mechanism, connecting ASEAN - Africa.

According to the Ambassador, what specific actions do the two countries need to take to turn cooperation goals into reality, especially after the state visit of President Luong Cuong in August 2025?

I believe that the relationship and cooperation between the two countries now have enough conditions to accelerate and move to a new stage of development.

Recently, during the state visit of President Luong Cuong and his wife and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to Angola, the two sides adopted the Vietnam - Angola Joint Statement, setting out the major vision and goals for the bilateral relationship, and setting out specific goals in each area of cooperation in the coming time.

To realize the visions and tasks set out requires relevant agencies on both sides to coordinate continuously, closely and effectively.

The two sides need to maintain high-level and all-level contacts to strengthen trust and understanding, create a favorable political environment for promoting cooperation in other fields; need to have measures to support promoting economic cooperation and other fields through specific and substantive support measures on policies and techniques and carry out activities for businesses and experts of the two countries to meet and exchange directly; at the same time, find ways to overcome difficulties in transportation and payment mechanisms; continue to improve the legal environment, sign necessary documents such as the Agreement on Investment Promotion and Protection, the Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation, agreements on payment, currency, simplification of visa and residence regulations to protect the security and safety of people and assets of each other's businesses.

Finally, Vietnam needs to have a strategy and a general plan for developing relations with Africa with a long-term vision, not just 5 years but 10 years, 20 years or longer. These strategies and plans will be the foundation and important basis for promoting long-term stability with Africa - a land that offers as many opportunities as other regions, even more incentives and openness.

Thank you very much, Ambassador.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/viet-nam-angola-nen-tang-vung-chac-tuong-lai-day-tiem-nang-20251110122301750.htm