50 years of Vietnam-Angola relations: Comradeship, understanding, and mutual benefit
WVR - These are the three words that Vietnamese Ambassador to Angola Duong Chinh Chuc uses to describe the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Angola over the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations on November 12, 1975.
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| Vietnamese Ambassador to Angola Duong Chinh Chuc. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Angola, Vietnamese Ambassador to Angola Duong Chinh Chuc gave an interview to The World and Vietnam Report, highlighting this significant milestone and sharing future expectations for bilateral relations.
How do you assess the significance of the five-decade milestone since Vietnam and Angola established diplomatic relations on November 12, 1975, just one day after Angola declared independence?
The year 2025 holds special significance for both Vietnam and Angola. Vietnam celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and national reunification, the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, and National Day on September 2; while Angola marks 50 years of independence (November 11, 1975 - November 11, 2025).
Both countries extend heartfelt congratulations to each other on these major occasions. Notably, in this joyous atmosphere, Angola welcomed State President Luong Cuong on a state visit in August 2025, adding another milestone to make 2025 even more meaningful.
As highlighted by the senior leaders of both countries during President Luong Cuong's visit, Vietnam's recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations with Angola, just one day after Angola declared independence, demonstrates Vietnam's support and solidarity with Angola's revolutionary cause.
President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço and Speaker of the National Assembly Carolina Cerqueira emphasized that Angola is moved and grateful for Vietnam's sincere support, highly valuing Vietnam's continuous presence in Angola even during its most challenging times.
During meetings, Angolan leaders stressed that many Angolan officials and citizens have been taught by Vietnamese teachers and treated by Vietnamese doctors. The image of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh remains deeply ingrained in the hearts of the Angolan people. Therefore, developing relations and cooperation with Vietnam is a shared aspiration of the Angolan people and all political parties.
The year 2025 is a meaningful and memorable year for the people of both countries, marking an important milestone that opens a new chapter of development.
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| State President Luong Cuong and his spouse, along with the high-level Vietnamese delegation, take a group photo with delegates at the 50th-anniversary celebration of Vietnam-Angola diplomatic relations in Luanda on August 7. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
If you could choose three words to describe the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Angola over the past 50 years, what would they be?
I believe that if we were to summarize the relationship between the two countries in three words, they would be comradeship, understanding, and mutual benefit.
Fifty years of relations represent fifty years of mutual trust and support, stemming from the ideals of independence, self-reliance, and socialism, with people at the center, showing mutual respect and sincere support, especially deep affection for the leaders of both countries. This is comradeship.
Both sides have developed a deep understanding, fostering relations and cooperation, providing timely and appropriate support without the need for persuasion. This is understanding.
Both sides promote cooperation without self-interest, for the common benefit of the peoples of both countries, without forming harmful or detrimental relationships. This is mutual benefit.
According to the Vietnam-Angola Joint Statement during President Luong Cuong's state visit to Angola last August, both sides are determined to build a cooperative partnership for development, aiming to become a model for South-South cooperation. According to you, what should both sides do to concretize the results of the visit and implement the contents of the Joint Statement?
The Vietnam-Angola Joint Statement, approved by the leaders of both countries during President Luong Cuong's state visit, is an important document that outlines the vision and major directions for bilateral relations, setting specific goals in various fields of cooperation in the coming time.
To realize the visions and tasks set forth, it requires continuous, close, and effective coordination between the relevant agencies of both sides, especially in economic and legal fields.
First and foremost, both sides need to maintain high-level and other levels of contact to strengthen trust and understanding, creating a favorable political environment for promoting cooperation in various areas. The forms of contact are diverse, including visits, meetings on the sidelines of international and regional conferences, and direct and online exchanges between ministries, sectors, and localities.
Next, both sides need to promote economic cooperation and other areas with specific, practical policy and technical measures. At the same time, conditions should be created for businesses and experts from both countries to meet and exchange directly through surveys, seminars, and gradually address the biggest current obstacles in trade and investment, namely transportation and payment mechanisms.
Furthermore, both countries need to continue improving the legal environment to ensure the security and safety of people and businesses' assets. In particular, it is necessary to promptly sign agreements on investment encouragement and protection, agreements to avoid double taxation, and agreements on payments and currency. Additionally, simplifying visa issuance procedures and residency management is essential to promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
After reaching the 50-year milestone of diplomatic relations, based on the orientation of the senior leaders of both countries, what is your vision for Vietnam-Angola relations in the coming period?
Currently, Vietnam and Angola maintain a traditional partnership. In the future, both countries need to aim to upgrade their relations.
Given their regional positions, the potential for relations, and the determination of the leaders of both countries based on the Joint Statement, I believe the two countries can move towards a strategic partnership in the coming years. Relevant agencies need to coordinate to define the content, goals, and specific implementation mechanisms.
Vietnam and Angola can play a central role in their respective regions, promoting cooperation between ASEAN, Asia, and the African Union (AU) and other mechanisms, contributing to maintaining and strengthening peace, stability, and promoting mutually beneficial development cooperation.
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| President Luong Cuong, his spouse, and the high-level Vietnamese delegation lay a wreath at the memorial plaque of President Ho Chi Minh on Ho Chi Minh Avenue in Luanda, Angola. |
In the capital Luanda, there is an avenue named after Ho Chi Minh, a testament to the special affection of the Angolan people for President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam. How does the Ambassador perceive the affection of the Angolan people for Vietnam? According to you, what should future generations do to continue "keeping the flame" of friendship alive, contributing practically to the socio-economic development of each country?
Ho Chi Minh Avenue, though not the only avenue named after foreign dignitaries and leaders, is the most beautiful avenue in Luanda, home to many important institutions, especially the MPLA Party headquarters and the monument of Angolan leader António Agostinho Neto. Angolan leaders affirm that the naming of the street was carefully considered, not random.
The Angolan Government and the Luanda city administration always pay attention to maintaining the memorial plaque on Ho Chi Minh Avenue, and right before President Luong Cuong's visit, the Luanda authorities organized a large-scale renovation to show their respect.
This is also evidence that the "flame" of Vietnam-Angola friendship continues to be nurtured over the years. To keep that "flame" burning brighter, future generations need to strive and make more efforts.
First and foremost, it is necessary to maintain a correct understanding of comradeship, the importance of preserving and developing bilateral relations, and prioritizing each other in certain aspects.
Secondly, it is essential to persevere in promoting bilateral cooperation, finding ways to overcome obstacles, and further developing economic cooperation to match the excellent political relations between the two countries.
Thirdly, it is crucial to enhance people-to-people exchanges in various forms, conducting many activities to introduce and promote each other's countries and people, thereby strengthening and deepening mutual understanding and trust.
Thank you very much, Ambassador!
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| President Luong Cuong, his spouse, and the high-level delegation take a group photo with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Angola. |
| "50 years of Vietnam-Angola relations are 50 years of mutual trust and support, stemming from the ideals of independence, self-reliance, and socialism, with people at the center, showing mutual respect and sincere support, especially deep affection for the leaders of both countries". Vietnamese Ambassador to Angola Duong Chinh Chuc |
