Ambassador Duong Chinh Chuc: New development period for Vietnam-Angola relations, a bridge for ASEAN-African Union cooperation

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Angola Duong Chinh Chuc, President Luong Cuong's visit will open a new period of development for Vietnam-Angola relations, contributing to connecting ASEAN-African Union (AU) cooperation.

President Luong Cuong and his wife left Hanoi for a state visit to Egypt and Angola on the morning of August 3.

Ahead of the State visit to Angola by President Luong Cuong and his wife along with the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, Vietnamese Ambassador to Angola Duong Chinh Chuc gave an interview to The Gioi va Viet Nam Newspaper, highlighting the significance of the visit, as well as the potential for bilateral cooperation and regional connectivity in the future.

How does the Ambassador assess the significance of the State visit to Angola by President Luong Cuong and his wife, especially as this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries (November 12, 1975 - November 12, 2025)?

At the invitation of Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço and his wife, President Luong Cuong and his wife will pay a state visit to Angola from August 6-9.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Angola Duong Chinh Chuc. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Angola)

This is the highest-level visit of our leaders to Angola after many years since the visit of President Tran Duc Luong (in 2002) and General Secretary Nong Duc Manh (in 2008). The visit is important in many aspects, especially taking place in 2025, a year with many important anniversaries for the two countries: 50 years of Southern Liberation and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025), 80 years of Vietnam's National Day (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2025), 50 years of Angola's Independence Day (November 11, 1975 - November 11, 2025), 50 years of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries (November 12, 1975 - November 12, 2025).

Politically, the visit contributes to maintaining high-level exchanges between the two countries, strengthening trust and mutual understanding. The visit is also an opportunity for the two countries' senior leaders to review the results of cooperation in the past time and propose development directions and measures to promote bilateral cooperation in the coming time, opening a new period of development for bilateral relations.

The President's visit is also an important occasion as the two sides are expected to sign many legal documents between the two governments, creating favorable conditions for people and businesses of the two countries to promote economic cooperation and other fields, as well as in the work of supporting and protecting citizens. The Embassy has received direct instructions from the leaders of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and active coordination from the ministries and branches of the two countries in the process of reviewing and preparing.

In the context of the rapidly evolving and complex global and regional situation, where countries are promoting a multipolar, multi-centered world, the President's visit to Angola - the country currently holding the rotating presidency of the African Union (AU) - is also an important occasion to strengthen cooperation between Vietnam and the AU, Angola and ASEAN, and an opportunity for both sides to promote their role as a bridge for cooperation between ASEAN and the AU.

How has the Vietnamese Embassy in Angola prepared for this important visit? What are your expectations for the results and momentum of the visit for bilateral relations?

Realizing the importance of the visit, from the very beginning, the Vietnamese Embassy in Angola has been proactive and active in coordinating with relevant agencies of the two countries in preparing for the visit.

The Embassy has coordinated with relevant agencies of the two countries to review the situation of the two countries' cooperation relationship, summarize the new issues that need to be raised, the issues that need to be further promoted, the difficulties that need to be resolved and solutions, and report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the President and relevant agencies for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to collect and develop content. The Middle East - Africa Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the central pillar in this preparation process. This work is the most important, whether the visit is successful or not, substantial or not, feasible or not depends on this stage.

Reception, logistics, and security for the visit are also very important. The Embassy acts as a bridge, conveying information and recommendations to the agencies of the two countries to ensure the most careful and discreet preparation. During this process, the Embassy received specific instructions from domestic agencies, and enthusiastic coordination from relevant agencies of Angola.

That preparation and coordination process is maintained throughout from the beginning, during the pre-visit phase and throughout the duration of the visit.

Vietnamese enterprises approach the market and sign investment projects in Angola, March 2025. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Angola)

Vietnam and Angola have a traditional friendship, the two countries established diplomatic relations just one day after Angola declared independence. What are the highlights of bilateral relations over the past 5 decades, Ambassador?

Vietnam was one of the first countries to recognize Angola's independence. Party-to-party relations were established first, followed by relations between state agencies. Party and state agencies coordinated smoothly, bringing the relationship between the two countries to the good development it is today.

We have proactively implemented cooperation and supported Angola in many fields, notably sending medical and educational experts to Angola to support the friendly country in the early days of independence, which faced many difficulties.

During the meetings, many Angolan leaders proudly said that they had been treated by Vietnamese doctors, taught by Vietnamese teachers, learned about Vietnam's history of fighting for independence with famous victories against imperialism and colonialism such as the Dien Bien Phu victory, the April 30 victory, and heard stories related to President Ho Chi Minh.

However, that is not the most impressive thing in the relationship between the two countries. The most impressive thing is Vietnam's loyalty and consistency in maintaining cooperative relations with its friend. Angola's leaders all highly appreciate Vietnam, who have never left Angola, even in the most difficult times. That has built trust and maintained the bond between the two countries over the past 50 years.

According to the Ambassador, what should Vietnam and Angola do to make their cooperation more effective and substantial in potential and strong areas, contributing to the socio-economic development of each country?

Although there are certain difficulties in developing relations between the two countries, the situation is basically favorable. The good relations between the two countries are the most favorable and solid foundation for promoting cooperation. Although Angola has many political parties, all parties support promoting cooperation with Vietnam.

Angola is a country with great development potential, a young and abundant workforce, and a high demand for consumer goods. The government is focusing on promoting economic diversification, improving domestic production capacity, especially in agriculture and consumer goods production, and focusing on investing in improving the transportation and telecommunications systems. Meanwhile, we are promoting the export of goods to the world, and Vietnamese enterprises are beginning to expand abroad. This is the most appropriate time for us to promote cooperation between the two countries.

I think that to develop relations and cooperation, the two countries need to take many measures.

First of all , it is necessary to maintain exchanges of delegations at high and all levels through Party, Government, National Assembly and people channels.

The second is to continue reviewing and perfecting legal documents between the two countries, creating a favorable basis for cooperation in all fields.

Third , the parties need to proactively promote exchanges and visits to each other to better understand each other's strengths and needs, and resolve difficulties; at the same time, proactively provide their information to their partners, especially information on products and projects that need to be promoted.

Fourth is to further promote people-to-people, cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries, enhance tourism cooperation, and provide more scholarships for Angolan students.

Fifth is to maintain regular contact with representative agencies of the two countries to expand support from the locality.

The Vietnamese Ambassador to Angola took a souvenir photo with the Vietnamese community football team in Angola, May 2025.

The human and community factors have always been the strong ties that bind the Vietnam-Angola friendship. Could you share the Embassy’s efforts to promote and spread the strength of the community, creating momentum for multifaceted cooperation between the two countries?

The Vietnamese community in Angola is the largest in Africa, currently numbering about 10,000 people, but this number is only one-fifth of that in the early and mid-1990s. Among them, there are some medium-sized enterprises, most of them are small traders and employees of Vietnamese and foreign enterprises in the country.

The life and business situation of our people in recent years, especially since mid-2023, has encountered many difficulties, but everyone has persevered and tried to overcome them.

The Vietnamese community in Angola is always united, close-knit, patriotic, always looking towards the homeland, supporting all policies of the Party and State, strictly complying with local laws, and taking care of each other.

Regarding associations, there is currently the Vietnamese Association in Angola and recently the Association has completed its Executive Committee for the 2025-2030 term, continuing to promote its role as a solid support for the Vietnamese community in Angola.

In addition, the Vietnamese Business Association in Angola was established and put into operation in mid-June 2024. This is an organization with members who are Vietnamese businessmen with seniority and experience in Angola, not only supporting Vietnamese businessmen in the country but also being an extended arm, an active support force for Vietnamese businesses in entering the Angolan market, especially in connecting and providing information.

Vietnam booth at the Francophone Flavor Night event in Angola, March 2025. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Angola)

What about this Central African country impressed the Ambassador the most?

Angola is a vast country with more than 1.2 million km2, rich in resources, with golden forests, silver seas, and great development potential. Despite many difficulties, Angola is always responsible for the continent, proactively participating in development forums, playing the role of conflict mediator, and rising to become a responsible country in the AU.

What impressed me most was that despite being colonized for nearly 500 years, Angola has always been a self-reliant country, still maintaining its identity, the languages ​​of the ethnic groups are still maintained and used in parallel with Portuguese, and the culture still retains its characteristics without being mixed.

Beautiful landscapes, abundant resources, self-reliant and self-reliant people, these are the precious characteristics of the country and people of Angola.

Thank you very much, Ambassador!

"In the context of the rapidly evolving and complex world and regional situation, where countries are promoting a multipolar, multi-centered world, the President's visit to Angola - the country currently holding the rotating presidency of the African Union (AU) - is also an important occasion to strengthen cooperation between Vietnam and the AU, Angola and ASEAN, and an opportunity for both sides to promote their role as a bridge for cooperation between ASEAN and the AU." (Ambassador Duong Chinh Chuc)

Luanda, Angola. (Source: Puolotrip)

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/dai-su-duong-chinh-chuc-thoi-ky-phat-trien-moi-cho-quan-he-viet-nam-angola-cau-noi-hop-tac-asean-lien-minh-chau-phi-323043.html