Promoting friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Angola in many fields

The Vietnam - Angola Intergovernmental Committee is co-chaired by Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son and Angolan Minister of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Maria do Rosário Bragança.

Attending the meeting were Angolan Ambassador to Vietnam Augostinho Fenandes; Vietnamese Ambassador to Angola Duong Chinh Chuc; representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Public Security and a number of universities and businesses.

Scene of the 7th Session of the Vietnam - Angola Intergovernmental Committee.

A meaningful meeting after a 10-year hiatus

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Nguyen Kim Son expressed his joy at visiting the beautiful country of Angola for the first time and thanked the Minister for her warm welcome to him and the members of the Vietnamese Government Delegation.

Affirming that Vietnam and Angola, although geographically distant, are always connected by historical similarities and a common aspiration for peace, national independence, and building a prosperous and happy country, the Vietnamese Minister of Education and Training said that this meeting, held after a 10-year hiatus, is considered a concrete demonstration of the efforts of both sides to promote multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

On behalf of the Vietnamese Government, Minister Nguyen Kim Son thanked the Angolan Government for supporting Vietnam in establishing official relations with the African Union as an observer, and for supporting Vietnam's candidacy for the Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term and the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf for the 2023-2028 term.

Congratulating the political, economic, cultural and social achievements that the Angolan people have achieved in recent times, especially the results achieved under the leadership of President João Lourenço, Minister Nguyen Kim Son also informed Minister Maria do Rosário Bragança of some key features of Vietnam's socio-economic development situation.

Minister Nguyen Kim Son and Minister Maria do Rosário Bragança exchanged the Minutes of the Meeting.

Towards more effective and substantive cooperation

Regarding bilateral cooperation, according to the representative of the Vietnamese Government, although both sides have made many efforts, the cooperation results are still modest, not commensurate with the good friendship and potential of the two countries.

In that spirit, Minister Nguyen Kim Son suggested that the two sides need to cooperate closely and have appropriate solutions to make the cooperative relationship more effective and substantive in the fields of trade - investment, finance - banking, industry, agriculture, oil and gas, security and public order, national defense, health, education, higher education, science and technology and a number of other fields.

Minister Nguyen Kim Son also suggested that relevant ministries and branches of the two sides study and discuss specifically the draft cooperation agreements in the fields of industry, public works and territorial planning, trade and seaports, air transport between the two countries, television, and criminal judicial assistance to clearly identify potential cooperation contents that both sides are interested in, and move towards signing a cooperation agreement at an appropriate time.

The two Ministers witnessed the signing ceremony of a cooperation agreement between the Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities and Agostinho Neto University.

Hope Vietnamese businesses invest in Angola

Commenting that “The meeting took place on a historic path”, Ms. Maria do Rosário Bragança, Angolan Minister of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, reviewed some key features of the traditional and strong historical relationship between the two countries.

Delegations of the Governments of Vietnam and Angola took a souvenir photo after the 7th Intergovernmental Committee Meeting.

Thanking Vietnam for supporting Angola in many aspects in the past time, the representative of the Angolan Government said that with 19 signed cooperation documents and many agreements under negotiation, this is a positive sign showing the desire to develop bilateral cooperation.

According to the Minister, the Angolan Government is focusing on diversifying the economy and increasing the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI). Angola wishes to promote good relations with Vietnam in order to learn from Vietnam's experience in diversifying the economy.

Currently, the fields of industry, tourism, mining, healthcare, education, agriculture, sports, and housing are the areas Angola prioritizes to attract FDI, and Angola hopes that Vietnamese businesses will pay attention and learn to invest in this potential market.

Delegations of the Governments of Vietnam and Angola took a souvenir photo after the 7th Intergovernmental Committee Meeting.

Agreeing on some new cooperation directions between Vietnam and Angola

In the spirit of high consensus, the two Ministers signed the Minutes of the 7th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation between the Government of Vietnam and the Government of Angola.

Accordingly, the two sides agreed to strengthen traditional cooperation areas such as politics, diplomacy, security, health, education, and agriculture; and open up a number of new cooperation directions in areas such as defense, justice, telecommunications and television, and local cooperation.

The two sides have made specific proposals and plans to make cooperation activities more effective and practical. In particular, the two sides agreed to resume sending Angolan students to study in Vietnam under the agreement scholarship program; increase the number of Vietnamese education experts to work in Angola; and continue to promote cooperation on medical experts.

The two sides also agreed to promote the import and export of each other's strengths such as rice, machinery, agricultural equipment and supplies, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, and create favorable conditions for businesses of both sides to confidently promote cooperation and business...

Representing the two countries' governments, the two Ministers requested the ministries, departments, branches and businesses of the two countries to promote initiatives, exploit to the fullest the potential and opportunities for trade and investment cooperation between the two countries, contributing to the successful implementation of the commitments reached at the Session.

On this occasion, representatives of Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities signed a cooperation agreement with Agostinho Neto University, in which Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities will grant 2 scholarships to students of Agostinho Neto University this year.

Minh An

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