President's working trip: Establishing a new framework in relations with African countries

Angolan officials see off President Luong Cuong and his wife at Quatro de Fevereiro Luanda International Airport. (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

According to the special correspondent of the Vietnam News Agency, at noon on August 9, President Luong Cuong and his wife, along with the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, arrived at Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi , successfully concluding the State visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Angola at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and his wife, and Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço and his wife.

This is the first State visit by a key Vietnamese leader to Egypt in 7 years and Angola in 17 years. The visit demonstrates the stature of Vietnam's foreign affairs in the new era, both achieving the goal of bringing Vietnam's relations with important regional partners such as Egypt and Angola to new heights and affirming the important policy message of our Party and State towards all countries in the African region.

During the visit, both countries gave President Luong Cuong and his wife, along with the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, a thoughtful, respectful, and warm welcome, with deep affection, demonstrating special respect for the relationship with Vietnam.

At the meetings, the host country expressed special affection for President Ho Chi Minh , expressed admiration for the history of the struggle for national independence and considered Vietnam a source of inspiration and a successful development model for developing countries, including Egypt and Angola.

Indeed, the most obvious feeling during this trip is the special affection that the leaders and people of Egypt, Angola in particular and Africa in general have for Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh.

The name Vietnam has always been a source of inspiration for the national liberation movement in the past, as well as in the construction and development of many countries in the "Black Continent" today, especially in a world still plagued by instability due to conflicts, epidemics and poverty.

For Egypt, Angola and many countries in the Middle East-Africa region, the friendship with the Vietnamese people has a historical foundation, personally cultivated by President Ho Chi Minh and previous leaders of many countries in the region.

President Luong Cuong and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

Since the early years of the 20th century, on his way to find a way to save the country, Uncle Ho stopped in Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia. That connection is also shown in the sharing and admiration for the cultural depth, country and people of two lands that seem far away but have a traditional, intimate, friendly and strong bond.

In his policy speech at the Arab League headquarters, President Luong Cuong expressed his emotion when knowing that in the hearts of the people of Egypt and many Arab countries, there is still a vivid memory of President Ho Chi Minh, a great friend, a tireless fighter for the aspiration of peace, independence and freedom; at the same time, he affirmed that in the past struggle for national liberation and unification, as well as in the current national construction, Vietnam and Arab countries have always given each other valuable support, encouragement and assistance.

During this visit, President Luong Cuong had a rich and effective working schedule in both Egypt and Angola, including important talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço; meetings with senior leaders of the two countries, and attending the ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Angola diplomatic relations.

In particular, the President also paid his first visit to the Arab League, delivering important policy speeches to the Arab League, as well as at the Special Plenary Session of the Angolan National Assembly, thereby affirming Vietnam's desire to elevate the friendship and cooperation with Egypt, Angola, the Arab League and African countries to new heights, becoming a bridge to promote peace, cooperation and development between the two regions of Asia and Africa.

In Egypt, throughout the talks and meetings with President Luong Cuong, the country's leaders expressed their deep admiration for President Ho Chi Minh, praising the glorious history and remarkable development achievements that Vietnam has achieved under the wise leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi emphasized that Egypt always cherishes and wishes to further promote the traditional friendship and close ties between brothers with Vietnam.

President Luong Cuong agreed with Egyptian leaders on specific measures to further consolidate political trust, promote economic cooperation between the two sides, as well as foster the traditional friendship between the two peoples. The two sides agreed to continue the fine tradition of friendship, support and help each other to develop together, for the prosperity of the people of the two countries, for peace and stability in the two regions and the world.

President Luong Cuong and President of the Egyptian Senate Abdel-Wahab Abdel-Razek at the Egyptian Senate headquarters. (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

On the other hand, realizing that the two countries still have much potential for cooperation and complement each other in the economic field, President Luong Cuong agreed with the Egyptian President on the determination to increase bilateral trade turnover to 1 billion USD in the coming time.

The two sides also discussed the possibility of starting negotiations on a Vietnam-Egypt Free Trade Agreement (FTA), creating more favorable conditions for the two countries’ strong products to penetrate each other’s markets; agreed to increase the sharing of investment opportunities, creating favorable conditions for businesses of the two countries to participate in projects in priority areas such as industry, textiles, renewable energy, information technology, etc.

Speaking to reporters accompanying the delegation, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang said Egypt is a major trade partner of Vietnam in the African region. During the President's visit, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to promote investment relations between the two countries with the goal of raising two-way trade turnover to 1 billion USD.

Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang assessed that the two countries have a lot of potential to exploit in the coming time, such as oil and gas, energy, digital transformation, green transformation and logistics. The two sides also agreed to establish a Vietnam-Egypt Business Council to create conditions for businesses to learn about each other and open up opportunities to enter each country's market.

Also during President Luong Cuong's visit to Egypt, the two countries' leaders agreed to upgrade bilateral relations to Comprehensive Partnership to promote the relationship founded by President Ho Chi Minh and President Gamal Abdel Nasser and nurtured by generations of leaders of the two countries, and also to match the level of bilateral relations, meet the aspirations of the people of the two countries as well as the desire to contribute to peace, stability, cooperation and development in each region and in the world.

President Luong Cuong looks at a portrait of President Ho Chi Minh displayed in the living room of late Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser. (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

Another highlight of this visit to Egypt was President Luong Cuong's visit and important speech at the Arab League headquarters. This was the first time a high-ranking leader of the Vietnamese Party and State had spoken at the Arab League.

Here, the President affirmed that from the history of solidarity, attachment, and extremely valuable traditional friendship, Vietnam wishes to write a new chapter in the multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and the brotherly Arab countries for peace, cooperation and development; at the same time, he believes that the traditional friendship between Vietnam and the Arab countries in general, and Egypt in particular, built on the foundation of history, trust and aspirations for development will increasingly bear fruit.

In his response, Jordanian Ambassador Amjad Adaile - Chairman of the Permanent Council of Representatives of the Arab League - shared that President Luong Cuong's visit is a historic milestone in the Arab League's relations with Vietnam, demonstrating Vietnam's determination to promote cooperation in all fields and strengthen Vietnam-Arab solidarity.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Hossam Zaki - Assistant Secretary General of the Arab League - assessed: "Vietnam is a promising economy and Arab countries also have great potential, so there is a great opportunity for cooperation between the two sides, not only in the economic field but also in politics and culture, as the President explained in his speech. Therefore, I think this speech should be seen by all of us as an action plan on how to promote relations between Arab countries and Vietnam."

President Luong Cuong delivers a policy speech to Angolan parliamentarians. (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

Meanwhile, for Angola, although geographically distant, the two countries have a common national spirit and share heroic memories of the struggle for independence and freedom.

Just one day after Angola declared independence (November 11, 1975), Vietnam became the second country in the world to officially establish diplomatic relations with Angola. After exactly half a century, the traditional friendship between brothers and close comrades between the two countries has been developing increasingly well.

Since the 1980s, Vietnam has sent many education and health experts to work in Angola. With a spirit of diligence, responsibility, dedication and high expertise, Vietnamese doctors and teachers have left many positive impressions in the local community. The Angolan government and people highly appreciate the valuable contributions of Vietnamese health and education experts. Leaders of the two countries always affirm that the close brotherly and friendly relationship between Vietnam and Angola is a valuable common asset, a solid foundation for the two countries to open a new stage of development, continue to strengthen and deepen the relationship of political trust, mutual support between the two Parties and two States, solidarity, attachment and mutual understanding between the two peoples.

The State visit of President Luong Cuong, especially in the context of the year the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1975-2025), once again strongly affirms Vietnam's importance in relations with Angola; the desire to bring Vietnam-Angola relations into a new stage of deeper politics, stronger economy, and more open people-to-people exchanges; and the determination to make relations with Angola, a leading trusted partner of Vietnam in Africa, a model to further promote multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and fraternal African countries.

President Luong Cuong and Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço listen to military bands playing the national anthems of the two countries. (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

During the talks and meetings with key Angolan leaders, the two sides agreed to continue promoting the traditional good friendship, support and help each other for mutual development, for the prosperity of the two peoples, for peace and stability in the two regions and the world; at the same time, maintain regular high-level visits and contacts through all channels; coordinate to effectively implement existing cooperation mechanisms and study the establishment of specialized cooperation subcommittees in areas of mutual interest.

Based on the great potential for cooperation as well as new strengths, the two sides also affirmed that they will create more favorable conditions for the two countries' strong products to penetrate each other's markets; increase the sharing of investment opportunities, create favorable conditions for businesses of the two countries to participate in projects in priority areas, especially agriculture, oil and gas, energy, information technology, etc.

Along with that, continue to promote cooperation in traditional fields such as education-training, health, agriculture. With the signing of a series of cooperation documents between the two sides during this visit, both sides hope to further promote cooperation in the fields of security, defense, fisheries, investment in the coming time; at the same time, open a new phase in bilateral cooperation.

Visiting the headquarters of the Party of the People's Liberation Movement of Angola (MPLA), President Luong Cuong and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation received a warm welcome from nearly 1,000 MPLA members in traditional Party costumes.

President Luong Cuong speaks at a working session with Ms. Mara Regina da Silva Baptista Domingos Quiosa, Vice President of the MPLA Party. (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

Vice President of the MPLA Mara Quiosa emphasized that the visit goes beyond political and diplomatic significance, not only strengthening the cooperative relationship between the two Parties and two countries but also being a visit of comrades and brothers on both sides of the ocean.

During this working trip, President Luong Cuong also spent time meeting with the Vietnamese community in Egypt and Angola to share about the country's situation, especially the policies and development orientations of the country in the new era, as well as listening to the thoughts and aspirations of the people.

The President acknowledged and appreciated the contributions of the Vietnamese community in the host country in promoting the friendly and cooperative relations between Vietnam and Egypt and Angola, as well as other African countries. In particular, for the Vietnamese community in Angola with about 10,000 people - the largest in Africa, the President expressed his appreciation for the contributions of many generations of Vietnamese medical, educational and agricultural experts, contributing to building a beautiful image of Vietnam.

The President was delighted with the sentiments towards the homeland and country of the people, who are also a bridge in the friendly relations between Vietnam and the host country; the Vietnamese business community in the two countries has also made progress, contributing to promoting economic exchanges, cooperation and mutual understanding between the two countries.

In an interview with the press accompanying the delegation, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son emphasized that President Luong Cuong's visit to Egypt and Angola this time achieved all the set goals with very substantial results and impressions, in which Vietnam has established a new framework in the relationship between Vietnam and regional countries; creating more favorable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to access the market, promote investment, and at the same time open up cooperation opportunities in new and potential fields.

Along with that, the President conveyed the important policy message of the Party and State of Vietnam to many countries in the African and Arab regions, affirming the role, position and orientation of Vietnam in the new era, expressing the desire to write a new chapter in multifaceted cooperation with the Arab and African brotherly countries for peace, cooperation and development.

President Luong Cuong's working trip once again affirms the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification of our Party and State, and at the same time reflects the trend of strongly enhancing cooperation between Southern countries in shaping a new world order towards multipolarity, fairness and equality./.

(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/chuyen-cong-tac-cua-chu-tich-nuoc-xac-lap-khuon-kho-moi-trong-quan-he-voi-cac-nuoc-chau-phi-post1054705.vnp