The visit is taking place at the invitation of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam's Central Committee, and Vietnam’s State President To Lam, along with his spouse.

The welcoming ceremony for the President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, and his wife at Noi Bai Airport. Photos: Minh Duc

According to Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang, this is the first official visit to Vietnam by the President of Guinea-Bissau since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1973. Vietnam and Guinea-Bissau share a traditional friendship; Vietnam is Guinea-Bissau’s third-largest export market globally, while Guinea-Bissau has long been one of Vietnam’s top five suppliers of raw cashew nuts in Africa. The two nations maintain cooperation in various areas and have signed bilateral agreements covering culture, economics, trade, industry, and science and technology. Both countries regularly collaborate and support each other in multilateral forums.

The Foreign Ministry Spokesperson also highlighted that this high-level visit marks Vietnam’s commitment to fostering its traditional friendship with African countries, including Guinea-Bissau. The visit aims to establish a foundation for enhancing cooperation across many areas, including traditional fields such as politics, economics, trade, agriculture, fisheries, and the processing industry, while also exploring new areas like port infrastructure development and mining.

The President at Noi Bai Airport. 

During the visit, President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau is expected to hold talks with General Secretary and State President To Lam and meet with other high-ranking leaders of Vietnam, as well as participate in several significant diplomatic activities.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Morocco and Guinea-Bissau, Le Kim Quy, remarked that this visit will contribute to the implementation of the "Development Plan for Relations between Vietnam and Middle Eastern-African Countries for the 2016-2025 Period."

According to the ambassador, President Umaro Sissoco Embaló's visit marks the resumption of high-level exchanges between the two nations after a 30-year hiatus. It is the first head-of-state visit between the countries since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1973.

"The visit opens a new and promising chapter in the multi-faceted cooperation between Vietnam and Guinea-Bissau, benefiting both peoples and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development regionally and globally," said the ambassador. Vietnam and Guinea-Bissau officially established diplomatic ties on September 30, 1973, just one week after Guinea-Bissau declared its independence and while Vietnam was still in the midst of its struggle for national reunification.

Over the past five decades, the two nations have maintained strong political relations. Delegations, including high-level exchanges, took place in the late 1970s. Guinea-Bissau has actively supported Vietnam in multilateral forums, and in July, it was one of two African nations to send a delegation to pay respects to late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

In terms of economic cooperation, bilateral trade has been a standout area. While still modest, trade volume has steadily increased, from $56.1 million in 2020 to nearly $170 million in 2023. Guinea-Bissau is currently one of the top five African suppliers of raw cashew nuts to Vietnam, making Vietnam its third-largest export market.

This visit by President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, his first since taking office in February 2020, comes at a time when the two nations are celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The visit is seen not only as a chance to reflect on past achievements but also as an opportunity to forge a new milestone in the multi-faceted cooperation between Vietnam and Guinea-Bissau.

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