Vietnam and Angola build on decades of friendship and solidarity
WVR - On the afternoon of 10 November in Hanoi, the Embassy of Angola in Vietnam held a seminar entitled “Angola and Vietnam: From Memories to the Future - Cooperation for Mutual Benefit” to mark the 51st anniversary of Angola's Independence Day (11 November 1975-11 November 2026).
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| Delegates pose for a group photo at the seminar marking the 51st anniversary of Angola's Independence Day. (Photo: Yen Vi) |
The seminar was attended by Angolan Ambassador to Vietnam Fernando Miguel; Director-General of the Middle East-Africa Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Phuong Tra; Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Dong Huy Cuong; former Vietnamese Ambassadors to Angola; members of the Angola-Vietnam Friends Club; former Vietnamese experts; and numerous delegates and representatives of the Angolan community in Vietnam.
Held in a warm and friendly atmosphere, the seminar provided an opportunity to reflect on the longstanding solidarity and close bonds between the two nations, while paying tribute to the contributions of Vietnamese experts to Angola's post-independence reconstruction and development.
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| Angolan Ambassador to Vietnam Fernando Miguel addresses the seminar. (Photo: Yen Vi) |
In his opening remarks, Angolan Ambassador to Vietnam Fernando Miguel highlighted the historic significance of 11 November 1975, when Angola declared independence following a protracted struggle for national liberation.
The Ambassador affirmed that the Vietnam-Angola friendship was built on solidarity and shared historical values. Notably, Vietnam was among the first countries to recognise Angola's independence, demonstrating its unwavering support for the Angolan people's struggle.
On this occasion, Ambassador Fernando Miguel expressed his profound gratitude to generations of Vietnamese experts, including doctors, teachers, engineers and agricultural specialists, who had overcome numerous hardships to contribute to Angola's post-independence reconstruction and development.
According to the Angolan Ambassador, the professional expertise, humanitarian spirit and dedication of Vietnamese experts have left a lasting impression on the Angolan people, serving as bridges of friendship and affection between the two nations.
Praising Vietnam's “remarkable journey of overcoming challenges and achieving progress”, along with its socio-economic development achievements, the Ambassador regarded the country's experience as a valuable model from which Angola could draw lessons.
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| Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Dong Huy Cuong speaks at the event. (Photo: Yen Vi) |
On the Vietnamese side, VUFO Vice President Dong Huy Cuong affirmed that shared ideals, a spirit of international solidarity and sincere mutual support had laid a solid foundation for the friendship between Vietnam and Angola.
He recalled the contributions of thousands of Vietnamese experts who had worked in Angola, as well as the role of the Vietnamese community currently living, working and doing business in the country.
Building on the traditional friendship between the two countries, the VUFO Vice President outlined three key pillars for future cooperation.
First, he called for greater efforts to harness the facilitating role of people-to-people diplomacy, capitalising on the flexibility and close connections offered by this channel to promote exchanges in economics, culture, science and technology, thereby further advancing the spirit of South-South cooperation.
Second, he emphasised the importance of strengthening the role of the Vietnamese community in Angola, as well as those who had previously studied or worked there. With their linguistic and cultural knowledge, practical experience and extensive networks, these individuals serve as vital bridges connecting organisations, businesses and people from both countries.
Third, Vice President Dong Huy Cuong stressed the need to inspire and empower younger generations to carry forward the legacy of Vietnam-Angola friendship through knowledge, creativity and a pioneering spirit in the digital era.
Reaffirming the importance of people-to-people diplomacy in the new period, he stated that VUFO stood ready to work closely with the Angolan Embassy and relevant partners to promote people-to-people exchanges, strengthen connections between friendship organisations, facilitate delegation exchanges and implement practical cooperation initiatives.
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| Delegates exchange views and share insights during the seminar. (Photo: Yen Vi) |
During the seminar, participants focused their discussions on three main areas: the contributions of Vietnamese experts to Angola's reconstruction and development; challenges and proposed solutions to strengthen bilateral cooperation; and the potential and opportunities for cooperation between the two countries, including the sharing of Vietnam's development experience in agriculture, light industry, consumer goods, healthcare and information technology.
Through these discussions, the seminar sought to build on the legacy of solidarity and traditional cooperation, while generating fresh momentum for economic diplomacy, business connectivity and expanded investment opportunities between Vietnam and Angola.
