President holds discussions with our embassy personnel and local community members in Angola at the embassy premises.
State President Luong Cuong is currently on a state visit to Angola, accompanied by his spouse and a high-level delegation from Vietnam. During his visit, he met with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Angola, a group of approximately 10,000 people who play a significant role in the country.
The Vietnamese community in Angola, the largest Vietnamese diaspora group in Africa, has been an integral part of the local society for decades. They have made substantial contributions to various sectors, including retail, restaurants, construction, timber trade, healthcare, education, and agriculture.
President Cuong praised the role of the Vietnamese community in promoting friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Angola. He sent warm regards and best wishes to all Vietnamese in Angola and urged them to remain united, integrate well into local society, adhere to local laws, and continue contributing to both Angola's development and Vietnam-Angola relations.
The community is well-established, with official recognition and associations licensed since 2016 and 2024, respectively. Vietnamese professionals in healthcare and education have been contributing since the 1980s, earning appreciation from local authorities.
However, the community faces challenges. Economic cooperation is still small-scale, mostly focused on retail and service sectors without a large-scale Vietnamese business presence. Cultural exchange is limited, with communication largely one-way and few Angolans visiting Vietnam, indicating challenges in deeper social integration and mutual cultural understanding.
The geographical distance between Vietnam and Angola remains a significant barrier that impacts investment scale and trade expansion. Despite these challenges, both governments are engaged in efforts to overcome these hurdles and foster stronger, more practical cooperation in the coming years.
Leaders from both countries have reiterated their commitment to creating favorable conditions for Vietnamese citizens and enterprises in Angola to live and operate more effectively. Plans to expand into new sectors such as green transition, digital transformation, energy, and tourism suggest more diversified opportunities for the community.
The Vietnamese government stresses unity, integration, and legal compliance within the community while encouraging continued contributions to Angola’s development and bilateral relations. Ongoing high-level visits and agreements aim to elevate bilateral cooperation to a new level, potentially addressing current logistical and cultural challenges.
Despite facing economic difficulties, disease outbreaks, and safety concerns, the Vietnamese community in Angola remains active and appreciated, serving as a key bridge for bilateral relations. They actively support campaigns launched in Vietnam, especially fundraising for disaster-hit areas.
In conclusion, the Vietnamese community in Angola is a vital bridge for bilateral relations, but faces challenges in cultural exchange, geographical distance, and limited scale of investment and trade. Both governments are engaged in efforts to overcome these hurdles and foster stronger, more practical cooperation in the coming years.
- President Cuong commended the Vietnamese community in Angola for their significant contributions to various sectors, such as retail, healthcare, education, and agriculture.
- The community faces challenges, including the limited scale of economic cooperation and cultural exchange, and the geographical distance between Vietnam and Angola.
- Leaders from both countries are committed to creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community and enterprises in Angola, with plans to expand into new sectors like green transition, digital transformation, energy, and tourism.
- The Vietnamese government encourages unity, integration, and legal compliance within the community while appreciating their continued contributions to Angola’s development and bilateral relations.
- Despite economic difficulties, disease outbreaks, and safety concerns, the Vietnamese community in Angola remains active, serving as a key bridge for bilateral relations and supporting campaigns launched in Vietnam, including fundraising for disaster-hit areas.
