Parliamentary diplomacy creates new momentum for Vietnam-Cote d'Ivoire relations
According to Le Kim Quy, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Morocco concurrently accredited to Cote d'Ivoire, the visit to Vietnam by key leader of Cote d'Ivoire marks a new chapter in the bilateral relationship. This is the first high-level visit since both countries restructured their leadership, taking place after the milestone of 50 years of diplomatic relations (1975-2025).
Latest
 |
| The ceremony celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Cote d'Ivoire takes place in Cote d'Ivoire. (Photo: Vietnamese Embassy in Morocco concurrently accredited to Cote d'Ivoire) |
Could you evaluate the significance, objectives, and expectations of this visit in the context of the positively developing Vietnam-Cote d'Ivoire relationship, especially after the recent celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations?
At the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, Cote d'Ivoire's National Assembly Chairman Patrick Achi will officially visit Vietnam from August 23-26. This visit holds significant importance for both Vietnam and Cote d'Ivoire.
The visit by Cote d'Ivoire's National Assembly Chairman opens a new chapter in bilateral cooperation. It is the first visit to Vietnam by a key leader from Cote d'Ivoire and the first high-level exchange between Vietnam and Cote d'Ivoire since both countries restructured their leadership, occurring in the context of the recent celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations (1975-2025).
 |
| Vietnamese Ambassador to Morocco concurrently accredited to Cote d'Ivoire, Le Kim Quy, stated that this is the first visit to Vietnam by National Assembly Chairman Patrick Achi since taking office in January 2026 and the second visit by a Cote d'Ivoire National Assembly Chairman in the past three years. (Photo: VNA) |
Welcoming the Cote d'Ivoire National Assembly Chairman is a step in implementing the foreign policy of the 14th Congress, emphasizing independence, self-reliance, resilience, peace, friendship, cooperation, development, multilateralization, diversification, and comprehensive and deep international integration in the new era of the country. For Africa, the visit contributes to the implementation of the “Scheme for Developing Relations between Vietnam and African Countries for the Period 2026-2030, with a Vision to 2025”.
The visit also demonstrates the determination to strengthen and further expand the friendly and cooperative relations between Vietnam and Cote d'Ivoire. The visit not only deepens parliamentary diplomacy but also helps create momentum, promoting substantial cooperation in various fields, especially in economy, trade, investment, agriculture, processing industry, mining, culture..., serving the practical interests of the people of both countries.
During the meeting between National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and National Assembly Chairman Patrick Achi on the sidelines of IPU-152 in April 2026, both sides agreed to enhance delegation exchanges, share legislative experiences, and coordinate at multilateral forums. According to the Ambassador, how will this visit play a role in elevating Vietnam-Cote d'Ivoire parliamentary cooperation to a new level, and how can the parliamentary channel be utilized to promote bilateral relations?
In recent years, parliamentary cooperation has increasingly affirmed itself as an important pillar in the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Cote d'Ivoire.
Parliamentary diplomacy helps strengthen political trust and promote bilateral cooperation. The mutual visits between the legislative leaders of the two countries are considered the most vibrant and diverse among high-level exchanges between Vietnam and Cote d'Ivoire.
This is the first visit to Vietnam by National Assembly Chairman Patrick Achi since taking office in January 2026 and the second visit by a Cote d'Ivoire National Assembly Chairman in the past three years. Notably, on this occasion, the National Assembly of Cote d'Ivoire organized a high-level study delegation to learn about Vietnam's policies and development experiences. This demonstrates the importance and desire to enhance cooperation with Vietnam, including parliamentary cooperation.
Cote d'Ivoire is the first West African country with which Vietnam signed a Parliamentary Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (6/2023), creating an important legal framework for bilateral cooperation, reflecting the importance of the legislative body in deepening the cooperative relationship between the two countries.
The visit is a step to continue implementing the general cooperation memorandum, concretizing the commitments between the National Assembly Chairmen of the two countries on the sidelines of the 152nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly (IPU-152) in April 2026 in Turkey.
Especially, the visit affirms the important role of parliamentary diplomacy, contributing to creating new momentum and deepening the friendly and cooperative relations between Vietnam and Cote d'Ivoire, making a positive contribution to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
In recent times, what highlights have there been in the cooperation between the two countries in various fields, Ambassador?
Vietnam and Cote d'Ivoire established diplomatic relations just a few months after the liberation of the South and reunification of the country (October 6, 1975). Over more than five decades, the two countries have continuously developed good cooperative relations in various fields.
In terms of political-diplomatic relations, high-level exchanges and contacts, especially since 2010, have contributed to strengthening friendship and political trust. The two countries regularly support each other at multilateral forums such as the United Nations, the International Organization of La Francophonie, the Non-Aligned Movement... Although they have not opened embassies in each other's capitals, both countries have appointed Honorary Consuls in each country.
The foreign ministries of the two countries have established a political consultation mechanism and held three meetings, the most recent in April 2024. Economically, bilateral trade turnover has continuously increased, surpassing the $1 billion mark since 2021 and reaching a record $1.98 billion in 2025, making Cote d'Ivoire Vietnam's largest trading partner in Africa in 2025. Cote d'Ivoire is the leading supplier of raw cashew nuts to Vietnam, and Vietnam is the largest importer of raw cashew nuts from Cote d'Ivoire.
Raw cashew nuts account for about 80% of Vietnam's annual imports from Cote d'Ivoire. Vietnam's main export items include rice, machinery and equipment, agricultural products, spare parts, and seafood. Culturally, for the first time, the Vietnam National Music, Dance, and Song Theatre performed in Cote d'Ivoire (July 2025) at the celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations organized by the Vietnamese Embassy.
The Vietnam Traditional Martial Arts Federation in Cote d'Ivoire, established in 2010, gathers many martial artists of various ages and has achieved numerous successes at traditional martial arts championships in Vietnam, Africa, and worldwide. The Vietnamese community, although modest in size with nearly 300 people, integrates well into the local society, becoming a solid bridge for the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
According to the Ambassador, how can the two countries leverage each other's positions and strengths for Vietnam to become a bridge helping Cote d'Ivoire enhance access to ASEAN, and conversely, for Cote d'Ivoire to become a gateway for Vietnamese businesses to expand their presence in West Africa?
| Both Vietnam and Cote d'Ivoire are politically stable countries with very dynamic economies and active international integration. With a population of about 104 million, Vietnam has joined the group of the top 32 economies and the 20 largest countries in the world in terms of trade exchange. Cote d'Ivoire has maintained high growth rates over the past decade and has become the leading economy in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), accounting for about 40% of the region's GDP ($99.77 billion in 2025, projected to exceed $112 billion in 2026). Cote d'Ivoire aims to become a high-middle-income country by 2030. Both countries hold important geopolitical positions in their respective regions. Vietnam is strategically located in a dynamically developing area, a leading creative hub in the world, and a crucial link in 17 FTAs connecting with 60 key economies regionally and globally, playing a central role in ASEAN. Cote d'Ivoire emerges as a growth driver, playing an important connecting role in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Africa, with Abidjan as the financial, logistics, and business center of Francophone West Africa. |
Both Vietnam and Cote d'Ivoire are considered to have favorable business environments and investment attraction policies within the global trade network.
The two countries are increasingly consolidating political trust, evidenced by high-level visits, creating a solid foundation and premise for expanding and deepening bilateral cooperation in various fields.
The two countries are promoting negotiations on important legal documents for cooperation, especially in economics, such as the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, and the Memorandum of Understanding on Economic-Trade Cooperation...
In the current global and regional context, South-South cooperation has demonstrated its strength and increasing role in global partnerships, serving as an effective cooperation mechanism to help developing countries like Vietnam and Cote d'Ivoire achieve sustainable development goals.
| Vietnam and Cote d'Ivoire established diplomatic relations on October 6, 1975, just a few months after Vietnam liberated the South and reunified the country. Over more than 50 years, the friendship and cooperation between the two countries have been continuously strengthened and expanded in various fields. On the evening of August 22, at the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, Cote d'Ivoire's National Assembly Chairman Patrick Achi led a high-level delegation to Hanoi, beginning an official visit to Vietnam from August 23-26.
|
