Promoting multifaceted cooperation with African nations

Vietnam and Senegal established diplomatic ties in 1969 and have since maintained a strong, friendly partnership. Both countries actively collaborate in multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Bilateral trade has recorded steady growth, reaching US$81.16 million in 2024. Notably, in just the first four months of 2025, Vietnam’s exports to Senegal reached US$43.3 million, already equal to the total for all of 2024.

In agriculture, Vietnam and Senegal have a longstanding record of cooperation. Between 1997 and 2005, Vietnam sent more than 100 agricultural experts to Senegal under a tripartite programme funded by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), a collaboration highly regarded by both the FAO and Senegal’s government.

Parliamentary cooperation between the two countries mainly takes place through multilateral platforms such as the IPU and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie (APF).

Meanwhile, Vietnam and Morocco established diplomatic relations in 1961 and have achieved notable progress across sectors, particularly since 2004. Trade ties have expanded rapidly, with two-way trade growing by 13–14% annually, from US$169.2 million in 2017 to over US$300 million in 2024. Vietnam exports electronics, coffee, pepper, textiles, and yarn to Morocco, while importing mainly animal feed and fertilisers.

People-to-people ties are fostered through active Friendship Associations and cultural exchange initiatives, including scholarships for Vietnamese students to study Arabic in Morocco. The local Vietnamese community, estimated at 300–400 individuals, includes descendants of Moroccan soldiers who once supported Vietnam’s fight against French colonialism, alongside workers and students.

Parliamentary cooperation between the two countries is robust. A bilateral agreement was signed in 2017, and regular high-level visits continue to reinforce legislative ties. Both countries are active in multilateral forums such as the IPU and APF. In a notable milestone, Morocco gained Observer status in the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in 2020, with Vietnam’s support as AIPA Chair that year.

Both Senegal and Morocco are two of Africa’s most dynamic economies, holding strategic positions in regional and global trade.

Senegal, located in West Africa, serves as a gateway to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with Dakar connecting Africa to Europe and Latin America via key sea and air routes.

Morocco, in North Africa, borders both the Mediterranean and Atlantic, and is the closest African country to Europe. Its wide network of free trade agreements with the European Union, the United States, and African Union makes it a vital trade hub linking Africa with major global markets.

Therefore, the two countries offer ideal entry points for Vietnamese goods and businesses to access West Africa, North Africa, and Europe.

Conversely, Vietnam, as an active member of ASEAN, a rapidly growing and increasingly influential economic region, can serve as a strategic bridge for Senegal and Morocco to access Southeast Asian markets.

Its central role in connecting ASEAN with external partners makes Vietnam an ideal transit point for African goods and services seeking entry into the region. By leveraging Vietnam’s position, Senegal and Morocco can strengthen their economic ties with ASEAN, diversify trade, and expand market outreach.

Elevating Vietnam – Switzerland comprehensive partnership

Vietnam and Switzerland established diplomatic relations in 1971 and recently upgraded their ties to a Comprehensive Partnership during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to Switzerland in January 2025. Switzerland is a major European trade and investment partner, with bilateral trade reaching US$811 million in 2024 and Swiss investments exceeding US$2 billion across 214 projects.

Negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), of which Switzerland is a member, have been ongoing since 2012. Switzerland prioritizes Vietnam for development cooperation and non-refundable aid, while both countries see vast potential for collaboration in education, science and technology, innovation, sustainable development, culture, and tourism.

The Vietnamese community in Switzerland numbers approximately 10,000 people, living across all 26 cantons. They are generally well-integrated, law-abiding, and united, actively contributing to Vietnam–Switzerland friendship while maintaining close ties to the homeland.

Legislative cooperation is strong, underscored by the 2023 official visit to Vietnam by Martin Candinas, President of Switzerland’s National Council. Both countries frequently consult and collaborate within multilateral parliamentary forums such as the IPU and the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (OIF).

Active role in addressing global challenges

While staying in Switzerland, the chief legislator will attend the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, a flagship event of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), held in close cooperation with the United Nations.

This conference offers Vietnam an opportunity to reinforce its active and responsible role in multilateral parliamentary diplomacy, promote cooperation between the IPU and the UN, and demonstrate the National Assembly’s commitment to addressing global challenges through legislative collaboration.

Since joining the IPU in 1979, Vietnam has consistently contributed to the organisation’s activities, sharing its experiences in policymaking and legislative development with parliaments worldwide. It emphasises not only economic growth but also sustainable development, social equity, environmental protection, innovation, and a people-centered approach.

Vietnam has participated in past World Conferences of Speakers of Parliament regularly, underscoring its commitment to multilateralism and constructive engagement in global governance.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for National Defence, Security and Foreign Affairs, Doan Tuan Phong, highlighted that the trip reflects Vietnam’s proactive and responsible role in international parliamentary forums. The visit will affirm Vietnam’s dedication to multilateral cooperation and its contributions to global dialogue and development.

Chairman Tran Thanh Man is expected to deliver a keynote speech at the plenary session of the conference, conveying Vietnam’s consistent policy of promoting peace and sustainable development worldwide. His address will also emphaside the critical role of parliaments in promoting peace, security, stability, and development amid today’s complex global challenges.

Throughout the trip, the Chairman will engage in over 50 bilateral and multilateral activities across the three countries. These efforts aim to boost cooperation, facilitate high-level exchanges, expand partnerships in politics, economy, trade, investment, and cultural exchange, and strengthen Vietnam’s ties with the IPU and its member states. These activities are poised to advance Vietnam’s foreign policy objectives and elevate its international profile.

Parliamentary diplomacy reinforces peace, cooperation and development

VOV.VN - National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man’s working trip to Switzerland, Senegal, and Morocco holds great significance, underscoring the role of parliamentary diplomacy in promoting peace, cooperation, and development, according to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang.