Vietnam, Angola Poised for New Era of Strategic Partnership and South–South Cooperation

Luanda, The Gulf Observer: President Lương Cường of Vietnam affirmed that his ongoing state visit to Angola reflects his country’s unwavering commitment to strengthening ties with one of its most trusted African partners. In a keynote address to a special plenary session of the Angolan National Assembly on Wednesday afternoon, President Cường expressed confidence that bilateral relations between Vietnam and Angola are poised to enter a new era of politically deep, economically strong, and culturally vibrant cooperation.
Speaking before lawmakers in Luanda, the Vietnamese leader emphasized the historical and emotional foundations of the two countries’ relationship, forged through shared struggles for independence and freedom. He recalled that Vietnam was the second nation in the world to officially recognize Angola’s independence on November 11, 1975 — a move that laid the groundwork for five decades of traditional friendship and mutual support.
Lauding Angola’s growing influence on the international stage, President Cường praised its leadership as the current Chair of the African Union, expressing hope that Angola would continue to advance initiatives promoting peace, cooperation, and sustainable development.
Touching on global challenges, the President noted that the world is experiencing a major transition toward multipolarity. Despite the prevailing aspirations for peace and cooperation, he warned of persistent challenges such as conflicts, emerging hotspots, and the ramifications of strategic rivalries among major powers. Issues of water and food security in both Asia and Africa were identified as pressing concerns threatening regional development gains.
In this context, President Cường underscored the urgency of enhancing South–South cooperation to promote a fairer, more balanced global political and economic order anchored in international law, the United Nations Charter, and the principles of sovereignty, equality, and mutual respect.
Reflecting on Việt Nam’s domestic development under nearly 40 years of Đổi Mới (Renewal), President Cường highlighted his nation’s transformation from poverty to becoming one of the world’s top rice exporters and among the 32 largest global economies. With 17 free trade agreements linking Việt Nam to 60 major economies, the country is now an emerging hub for foreign investment, backed by political stability and a secure social environment.
He also shared Việt Nam’s expanding diplomatic footprint, including formal relations with 194 countries, 37 strategic-level partnerships, active engagement in over 70 international organizations, and inter-party ties with 259 political parties in 119 countries. The Vietnamese National Assembly, he noted, has established cooperative ties with more than 140 parliamentary institutions, including Angola’s legislature.
Outlining Việt Nam’s aspirations to become a modern industrial country with upper-middle income by 2030 and a developed, high-income nation by 2045, the President reaffirmed Việt Nam’s commitment to strategic reforms in institutional modernization, human capital development, and infrastructure upgrades.
Looking forward, President Cường reiterated Việt Nam’s determination to elevate its partnership with Angola to new heights, with a focus on bolstering political trust, expanding trade and investment, enhancing people-to-people exchanges, and increasing cooperation in traditional and emerging sectors. He also called for closer coordination in international and multilateral forums, particularly those aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
President Cường expressed hope that Angola would support Vietnam’s efforts to deepen engagement with the African Union in priority areas such as peace, security, agriculture, education, healthcare, and digital transformation. In return, he affirmed Vietnam’s readiness to assist Angola and African organizations in advancing relations with ASEAN and its member states.
Concluding his speech, President Cường highlighted that the Vietnam–Angola partnership has remained resilient across historical changes and continues to exemplify enduring solidarity and friendship. He expressed firm belief that bilateral relations will continue to grow stronger, delivering mutual benefits and contributing to global peace, stability, and prosperity.
In her opening remarks, Speaker of the National Assembly of Angola, Carolina Cerqueira, welcomed President Cường’s presence as a strong symbol of the long-standing friendship and solidarity between the two nations. She praised Vietnam’s historic resilience and success in nation-building, noting that it has long inspired the Angolan people.
Cerqueira expressed gratitude for Vietnam’s consistent support over the past five decades, stating that the shared legacy of solidarity remains a precious asset to be further nurtured. In light of growing global uncertainties, she called for greater bilateral collaboration to address pressing global issues and strengthen ties between regional organizations to which both countries belong.