Ethiopian Prime Minister Begins Official Visit to Vietnam
Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and his spouse Zinash Tayachew arrived in Hanoi on Monday afternoon, commencing a four-day official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and his spouse. The visit also includes participation in the fourth Partnership for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit.
Upon arrival at Nội Bài International Airport, the Ethiopian delegation was warmly welcomed by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyễn Minh Hằng and Vietnamese Ambassador to Tanzania and Ethiopia Vũ Thanh Huyền.
This visit marks a historic milestone as the first official visit to Vietnam by a high-ranking Ethiopian leader since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries on February 23, 1976. It is also the first high-level exchange between the two nations in seven years, underscoring their mutual desire to deepen cooperation and celebrate the forthcoming 50th anniversary of bilateral relations in 2026.
Vietnam and Ethiopia share a longstanding friendship and have consistently supported one another at multilateral forums and international organisations. In previous engagements with Vietnamese leaders, Prime Minister Abiy has reiterated Ethiopia’s commitment to enhancing its partnership with Vietnam, particularly in areas of mutual interest.
Party-to-Party relations between the Communist Party of Vietnam and Ethiopia’s ruling Prosperity Party, as well as its predecessor, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (1988–2019), remain strong. Leaders from both parties frequently exchange messages of congratulations on the occasion of each other’s national congresses, reflecting a solid foundation of political trust.
In the realm of economic cooperation, Ethiopia recognized Vietnam as a market economy in 2014. Bilateral trade over the past four years has maintained a value between US$10–15 million. Notably, MK Group, a Vietnamese enterprise, is operating a joint venture in Ethiopia for smart card production, in which it holds a 60% stake. The company is also working to expand collaboration in cybersecurity and information security with applications in national defence.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali’s visit is expected to provide fresh impetus to Vietnam–Ethiopia relations across multiple sectors, including trade, investment, technology, and development cooperation. His attendance at the P4G Summit further reflects both countries’ shared commitment to green growth and sustainable development on the global stage.
