Vietnam Eyes Strengthening Multifaceted Cooperation with Africa

The Vietnamese diplomat affirmed that Vietnam values the African Union's (AU) position and prestige in the continent's political-security, economic, and social life; and congratulated the African people, led by the AU, on achieving many great development achievements recognized by the United Nations and the international community, as evidenced by the AU's official membership in the G20.

He expressed confidence that with African countries actively promoting the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Africa would become the world's dynamic development center in the future.

Assistant Minister Nguyen Minh Vu expressed his appreciation for African countries' achievements, affirming that Vietnam always values ​​and wishes to promote and deepen Vietnam-Africa multifaceted cooperative relations at bilateral and multilateral levels.

Vietnam has officially become an Observer of the AU from December 2023 and has recently made many practical contributions to the initial achievements of the AU's 2063 Agenda with a vision of “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena”, especially in the four fields of peacekeeping, ensuring food security, developing digital infrastructure, and improving the quality of human resources. In the context of Vietnam's trade with the rest of the world facing several challenges in 2023, the two-way trade turnover increased by 8.9% to 8.92 billion USD, up from 2022.
 

Speaking at the ceremony, Moroccan Ambassador Jamale Chouaibi, Head of the Group of Ambassadors of African Countries in  Hanoi, stated that Africa is emerging and undergoing an economic and systemic transformation with the ultimate goal of ensuring a fair and sustainable future. He also emphasized Africa's role as a global growth engine and a "land of opportunity."

Despite the significant challenges posed by political instability, climate change, and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Africa is actively cooperating with partners to achieve long-term economic development.
 

Ambassador Jamale Chouaibi stated that with Vietnam's strengths and experience and Africa's huge natural needs and advantages, the two sides have a lot of potential for cooperation, particularly in food security, health, and energy, to build a prosperous and connected world.

At the celebration, Assistant Minister Nguyen Minh Vu and Ambassadors and leaders from Vietnam's ministries, departments, and branches, visited the display counters of African embassies, which featured numerous unique cultural elements and traditional cuisine of African countries.