The event was attended by Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, his spouse, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation who were on a State visit to Angola. Angolan Foreign Minister Tete Antonio, leaders of the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), ambassadors and representatives of foreign missions, and about 400 members of the Vietnamese community in Angola attended the event.

In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son emphasised the importance of the function, especially as it was taking place during President Luong Cuong’s first State visit to Angola in nearly 20 years.

He affirmed that the friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Angola were forged during their respective struggles for national liberation. Historic visits such as that of MPLA President Agostinho Neto to Vietnam in August 1971, and General Vo Nguyen Giap’s visit to Angola in December 1980 laid a solid foundation for bilateral ties.

Remarkably, just one day after Angola declared independence on November 11, 1975, the two countries officially established diplomatic relations, a powerful symbol of mutual trust and shared ideals, he said.

The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the strong growth in Vietnam-Angola cooperation over the past 50 years across many areas, including politics, diplomacy, economy, culture, education, healthcare, and people-to-people exchanges.

From the first 11 Vietnamese experts sent to Angola in the late 1970s, tens of thousands of Vietnamese professionals have since lived and worked in Angola, contributing significantly to the country's reconstruction and development.

President Luong Cuong’s State visit is expected to help define future directions for bilateral relations. Vietnam aspires to elevate the relationship to a “Development Cooperation Partnership”, serving as a model for South-South cooperation, he stressed.

In his speech, Angolan Foreign Minister Tete Antonio expressed deep appreciation for the enduring friendship between the two countries, built on mutual respect, solidarity, and a shared history of resistance for independence.

He noted that Vietnam was among the first countries to recognise the Republic of Angola and has consistently supported it in vital sectors such as agriculture, education, and healthcare. Angola also greatly values the many professionals who were trained in Vietnam.

Looking forward, Antonio stressed the need to expand cooperation in economy, trade, science and technology, tourism, and cultural exchange, while enhancing business connections to unlock full bilateral potential.

He underlined the significance of President Cuong’s visit as a vivid reflection of the two countries’ determination to nurture their special relationship.

Angola and Vietnam, he affirmed, will continue to champion peace, prosperity, multilateralism, and peaceful solutions to global challenges. They will remain trustworthy partners on the international stage, advocating for the interests of developing nations and promoting global stability.

On this occasion, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son, Co-Chairman of the Vietnam-Angola Intergovernmental Committee, presented insignia to several Vietnamese professionals in healthcare and education, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to Angola’s development and to strengthening bilateral relations.

President Luong Cuong proposes strategic direction for Vietnam–Angola relations

VOV.VN - Vietnam regards Angola as a traditional friend and wishes to elevate bilateral relations to a strategic development partnership, aiming for comprehensive cooperation for peace, stability, and shared prosperity across Asia, Africa, and the world.