(VOVWORLD) - Mozambican President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi and his wife are on an official visit to Vietnam. The visit, made at the invitation of Party General Secretary and President To Lam and his wife, is President Nyusi’s first visit to Vietnam since taking office and the first visit to Vietnam by a Mozambican President in 17 years.
Mozambican President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi and Party General Secretary and President To Lam (Photo: VOV) |
This visit is particularly significant as both countries prepare to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations next year.
Highlights of Vietnam-Mozambique cooperation
Vietnam and Mozambique established diplomatic ties on June 25, 1975, the day Mozambique declared its independence. Their shared history of mutual support during their struggles for national liberation is the cornerstone of bilateral friendship. Generations of Mozambicans have felt great respect and special affection for President Ho Chi Minh and General Vo Nguyen Giap.
The traditional solidarity, friendship, and cooperation between Vietnam and Mozambique have been fostered and strengthened by generations of leaders and citizens of the two countries. The Communist Party of Vietnam and Mozambique’s ruling party, Mozambique Liberation Front - FRELIMO, share a strong bond, providing a solid foundation for deepening bilateral relations in multiple areas and fostering comprehensive and effective cooperation between the two countries.
Both nations are consistent in attaching importance totheir traditional friendship and partnership. Mozambique considers Vietnam a priority in its Eastward foreign policy, while Vietnam values its traditional friendship with African nations, including Mozambique.
Over the past five decades, cooperation between the two countries has seen remarkable progress in multiple fields.
Economic cooperation is a standout aspect of Vietnam-Mozambique relations. The Movitel telecommunications joint venture, a collaboration between Viettel and Mozambique’s SPI Company, with a total investment of more than 600 million USD, has been a significant achievement. Since 2024 Movitel has been the leading provider of telecommunications and IT services in Mozambique and ranks among the top three contributors to the African country’s national budget.
In 2023, two-way trade approached 550 million USD, with Vietnam exporting 127 million USD worth of rice, fertilizers, and other products and importing almost 420 million USD, primarily in coal and cashew nuts from Mozambique.
Agricultural collaboration has been fruitful through projects like the Vietnam-Mozambique Food Crops Research and Development initiative from 2013 to 2017, with nearly 2 million USD funded by Vietnam. Vietnam has sent healthcare and education experts to Mozambique, and the two nations have signed several cooperation agreements on trade, health, agriculture, education, aviation, biodiversity, security, and defense.
The two countries continue to collaborate and support each other at multilateral forums, and engage in regular high-level exchanges, including official visits, talks, and phone calls.
Mozambican President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi and Party General Secretary and President To Lam witness the signing of several cooperative agreements between the two countries |
Enhancing bilateral friendship, cooperation
President Nyusi’s visit to Vietnam underscores Mozambique’s commitment to enhancing and expanding its longstanding friendly cooperation with Vietnam. It reflects Mozambique’s recognition of Vietnam’s growing influence in the region and on the global stage.
The visit also aligns with Vietnam’s foreign policy objectives outlined during the 13th National Party Congress and the project to strengthen relations between Vietnam and Middle Eastern and African nations from 2016 to 2025, reflecting Vietnam’s consistent policy of treasuring its traditional friendships with African countries, including Mozambique.
Building on a foundation of strong historical ties and recent cooperation, this visit is expected to open new avenues for collaboration while enhancing the effectiveness of existing partnerships between the two nations.