PM Abiy Ahmed Ali and his delegation were welcomed at Noi Bai International Airport by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang and Vietnamese Ambassador to Tanzania and Ethiopia Vu Thanh Huyen.

Vietnam and Ethiopia established diplomatic relations on February 23, 1976, and are heading toward the 50th anniversary of their ties in 2026. Both countries share a longstanding friendship and regularly support each other at multilateral forums.

This marks the first official visit to Vietnam by a high-ranking Ethiopian leader since the two countries established diplomatic relations, and also the first high-level delegation exchange between the two sides in seven years.

In previous meetings with Vietnamese leaders, PM Abiy Ahmed Ali affirmed Ethiopia’s appreciation for its ties with Vietnam and expressed a strong desire to further boost bilateral cooperation.

The Communist Party of Vietnam maintains good relations with Ethiopia’s ruling Prosperity Party and its predecessor, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (1988–2019). High-level leaders of the two parties regularly exchange greetings and congratulations on the occasions of each other’s congresses. The two sides have consistently supported each other at multilateral forums and international organizations.

On economic cooperation, trade, and investment, Ethiopia has recognized Vietnam as a market economy since 2014. Bilateral trade over the past four years has ranged between US$10–15 million. MK Group, the only Vietnamese enterprise with a joint venture in Ethiopia, holds a 60% stake in a smart card production facility and is actively bolstering cooperation in cybersecurity and information security to serve national defence purposes.

Vietnam, Ethiopia look to strengthen cooperation in potential sectors

Vietnam and Ethiopia have agreed to consider enhancing cooperation in potential fields, such as food processing, aquatic products, pharmaceuticals, Halal products, and textile.