Vietnamese Ambassador to Ethiopia and Tanzania Nguyen Nam Tien (L) presents his credentials to Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde on June 1 (Photo: VNA)

Pretoria (VNA) – Vietnam and Ethiopia will build on their friendly ties in politics and socio-economic affairs to continue coordinate and support each other at multi-lateral mechanisms, including the African Union (AU).

The agreement was reached between Vietnamese Ambassador to Ethiopia and Tanzania Nguyen Nam Tien and Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde on the occasion of the Vietnamese diplomat presenting his credentials to the Ethiopian State leader on June 1.

President Zewde affirmed her wish to strengthen Ethiopia-Vietnam relations, and asked Vietnam to continue providing support for her country in the time ahead. 

Ambassador Tien said a priority during his term is to promote relations between the two countries in all aspects, particularly trade and investment. He affirmed that Vietnam is willing to support and create favourable conditions for Ethiopia to early open its embassy in Vietnam.

Earlier, the Vietnamese Ambassador held a working session with Molalign Asfaw, Director-General for Asia and the Pacific at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs  of Ethiopia, during which he proposed that the two countries increase the exchange of high-level visits and push forward with the implementation of signed agreements after the COVID-19 pandemic is put under control.

Asfaw noted that there is much room for the two countries to expand trade, which is currently valued at 20 million USD a year at present. He said Ethiopian welcomes investment from Vietnamese businesses, and urged more exchanges between the two governments, ruling parties, business communities and people.

Ambassador Tien also had a meeting with officials from the ruling Prosperity Party (PP) to discuss ways to enhance the ties between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the PP.

Meeting with the Vietnamese community in Ethiopia, the ambassador stressed that the Vietnamese Embassy is always ready to give support to the community, especially amid the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic./.