Vietnamese President's Tour Marks New Phase of Cooperation with Africa

The official tour launched today by Vietnamese President Luong Cuong to Egypt, which will also include a visit to Angola, is being viewed as a significant political development that ushers in a new era of cooperation between Vietnam and Africa.

According to Nguyen Minh Hang, Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, the state visits to these two countries, scheduled to conclude on August 9, are intended to advance the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralism, and diversification as outlined by the Communist Party and the Vietnamese state.

In remarks to national media prior to the president's departure, Minh Hang emphasized the special significance of the tour, which she described as highly anticipated by both Vietnam and the host countries.

She noted that, amid the current complex global economic and trade landscape, the president’s visits to Egypt and Angola represent a major step forward in diversifying Vietnam’s markets and expanding partnerships with emerging regions, particularly in Africa.

Africa, she pointed out, is home to 1.5 billion people, a growing middle class, vast natural resources, and plays an increasingly important role in the global economy.

Minh Hang further stated that these visits offer a valuable opportunity for Vietnam and its African counterparts to elevate their bilateral relations in a more substantive, effective, and sustainable manner.

She also highlighted that through this diplomatic tour, Vietnam intends to send a political message to African countries and the broader international community, signaling its rising role and status on the world stage and its confident entry into a new global era.

The deputy minister recalled that Vietnam has long maintained strong cooperation with Egypt, Angola, and other African nations, through both solid bilateral ties and active coordination in multilateral forums.

She noted that Vietnam, Egypt, and Angola supported one another during their respective national liberation struggles and that President Ho Chi Minh himself demonstrated deep solidarity and firm support for African liberation movements.

Minh Hang, as cited by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), also mentioned that since 2023, Vietnam has served as an observer to the African Union. Vietnamese peacekeeping forces have made important contributions in conflict zones such as South Sudan and the Central African Republic.

Finally, she remarked that this diplomatic tour will further strengthen Vietnam’s cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Arab League, and the African Union.