Efforts needed to create breakthroughs in Việt Nam -Africa relations: Official

HÀ NỘI — Although economic cooperation between Vietnam and Africa has developed positively, it has not yet matched the potential, the strong political relations, and the aspirations of the people from both sides, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Đỗ Hùng Việt said on Wednesday.

In a meeting in Hà Nội with eight ambassadors and chargé d’affaires from embassies in Hà Nội along with eight non-resident ambassadors from African countries, the official expressed his delight at the positive development of Việt Nam-Africa cooperation over recent time, highlighting the significant milestone of Việt Nam officially becoming an observer of the African Union (AU) in December 2023, and having made important contributions to support African countries in implementing the AU’s Agenda 2063 in areas such as peacekeeping, food security, agriculture, digital infrastructure development, and education and training.

The official expressed hope that, by building on this strong political relationship, the two sides will continue supporting each other in multilateral forums, especially the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Francophonie. He also urged African countries to support Việt Nam’s candidacy for important UN mechanisms, such as the UN’s General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, and the Security Council.

He proposed that diplomats actively play a bridging role and enhance coordination by recommending and implementing specific cooperation plans in the near future to create a shift in trade cooperation and investment attraction.

The foreign diplomats affirmed their backing for Việt Nam in promoting cooperation with the AU and regional economic communities (RECs) to contribute to the continent’s overall development, particularly in areas where Việt Nam has strengths. They shared experiences in industrialisation, modernisation, poverty reduction, and agricultural development.

Regarding economic matters, many showed their desire for Việt Nam to effectively seize the opportunities brought about by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and to tap into the potential of the African common market. They suggested both sides enhance exchanges between their chambers of commerce, business communities, and people-to-people interactions, as well as facilitate visa issuance to strengthen mutual understanding and expand opportunities for economic, trade, and investment cooperation.

The diplomats also proposed that Vietnamese businesses increase their investments in Africa to take advantage of the young workforce and abundant natural resources.

To create breakthroughs in bilateral cooperation, the two sides agreed to strengthen agricultural collaboration, actively seek third-party resources to implement trilateral projects in agriculture and education, share development experiences, and continue perfecting the legal framework, and negotiating and signing important agreements such as those on double taxation avoidance, investment promotion and protection, and visa exemptions for diplomatic and official passport holders. — VNS

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