The agreement was reached during talks in Luanda on August 7 between Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco and his visiting Vietnamese counterpart Luong Cuong.

Emphasizing that Angola is one of Vietnam’s leading partner in Africa, President Cuong stated that the two countries still have ample potential to strengthen cooperation and they should build a partnership for joint development, serving as a model for South-South cooperation.

Vietnam wishes to deepen and expand comprehensive cooperation with Angola in key areas such as defence, security, education, healthcare, agriculture, and human resource training, he told his host.

President Lourenco, for his part, expressed admiration for Vietnam’s development achievements and welcomed enhanced bilateral cooperation. He called on Vietnam to share its expertise in agriculture, especially rice and fruit cultivation, to help Angola ensure sustainable food security. He also invited Vietnamese businesses to invest in Angola in areas such as energy, mining, metallurgy, defence, and trade.

The two leaders agreed to strengthen high-level exchanges, enhance the effectiveness of the Vietnam –Angola Intergovernmental Committee, boost bilateral trade, and jointly develop economic cooperation agreements.

Sharing a common understanding with his host on the importance of elevating bilateral trade and investment relations, President Cuong proposed that Angolan authorities create favourable conditions and offer incentives for Vietnamese enterprises to promptly implement investment projects and plans in areas such as oil and gas, energy, mineral exploration and processing, and the metallurgical industry.

He also recommended that the two sides strengthen trade promotion activities, enhance business-to-business connectivity, boost cooperation between the two countries’ banking systems, while stepping up the negotiation and signing of foundational economic cooperation agreements, aiming to raise bilateral trade turnover to US$1 billion in the near future.

President Cuong also urged the Angolan government to facilitate a stable and secure living and working environment for the Vietnamese community in their host country, recognising their role as a vital bridge to strengthen bilateral ties.

On regional and international issues, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to resolving disputes by peaceful means, based on respect for international law and the UN Charter.

President Cuong also called on Angola to support Vietnam’s efforts to deepen cooperation with the African Union and gain greater representation in international organisations.

On this occasion, President Cuong extended a warm invitation to President Lourenco and his spouse to pay an official visit to Vietnam. President Lourenco thanked the Vietnamese leader and gladly accepted the invitation.

At the end of the talks, the two presidents issued a joint statement between Vietnam and Angola, affirming both sides’ commitment and determination to open a new chapter in their bilateral cooperation. The two leaders co-hosted a press briefing and witnessed the signing of several cooperation documents on the transfer of sentenced persons, on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, on crime prevention and control, as well as in the fields of defence, agriculture, broadcasting and oil and gas cooperation.

This is President Luong Cuong’s first official State visit to Angola, and it takes place at a time when the two countries are celebrating 50 years of their diplomatic relations (1975–2025).

During his stay from August 6 – 8, President Cuong is also scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the National Assembly of Angola. 

Angola welcomes President Luong Cuong on State visit with 21-gun salute

VOV.VN - Angola on August 7 fired a 21-gun salute to welcome Vietnamese President Luong Cuong and his spouse on a State visit to the African nation at the invitation of President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco.