Africa-Press – Angola. Angola and Vietnam on Thursday, in Luanda, celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, marked by great historical significance and unbreakable bonds of solidarity and friendship.
The act became memorable given that it took place during the state visit of Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, the first visit by a Vietnamese head of State to Angola in almost 20 years, at a time when the Southeast Asian country celebrated the 80th anniversary of its independence, while Angola celebrates this year (Nov 11) its 50th anniversary of sovereignty.
The Foreign minister, Téte António, recalled that relations between Angola and Vietnam were born in a context of struggle for self-determination and independence of the peoples, inspired by the historic leaders António Agostinho Neto and the Vietnamese revolutionary and politician Ho Chi Minh, who shared ideals of freedom, justice, and national sovereignty.
The Angolan minister praised the courage and resilience of the Vietnamese people, who he considered as an inspiration to the Angolan people, highlighting the bonds of solidarity and friendship that have marked the bilateral journey.
Téte António recognized that the training of Angolan staff in Vietnam has been contributing significantly for the strengthening of the cooperation between the two states.
He expressed the Angolan government’s intention to strengthen bilateral cooperation with a focus on identifying new opportunities in the economic, commercial, scientific and technological areas.
“Today, 50 years after the establishment of diplomatic relations, Angola and Vietnam congratulate each other on the remarkable progress made by both countries, each establishing itself as a relevant player in the region and the world,” he emphasized.
The Angolan Foreign minister noted that, over these five decades, it has been demonstrated that geographical distance has never been an obstacle to the affectionate bond between the two countries and peoples.
He recalled that, since the arrival of the first 11 Vietnamese specialists in agriculture and health in the late 1970s, thousands of Vietnamese professors, doctors, and compatriots have lived and worked side by side with the Angolan people, contributing with dedication and pride to Angola’s construction and development.
The ceremony, attended by high-ranking officials from the central government of Angola and Vietnam, was marked by the awarding of medals of recognition in the areas of health and education to Vietnamese citizens who have made significant contributions to the Angolan people over the past five decades.
Relationship with historical roots
Relations between Angola and Vietnam date back to 1971, with a visit to Hanoi by the first Angolan president, António Agostinho Neto, before the proclamation of national independence.
In 1978, the general cooperation agreement was signed, laying the foundation for partnerships in areas such as agriculture, culture, energy and education.
The bilateral relationship has been strengthened over the years through the Bilateral Cooperation Commission, whose last meeting was held in Luanda, in March 2024.
At the 5th regular session of the Commission, the two countries identified the sectors of diplomacy, security, health, education and agriculture as priorities, as well as defence, justice, telecommunications, broadcasting and local cooperation.
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