Ethiopia prioritizes Vietnam in Asian foreign policy: PM Abiy Ahmed Ali

He made the remarks during talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi on Tuesday, as part of his official visit to Vietnam and attendance at the fourth Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit taking place from April 14 to 17, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Welcoming the Ethiopian leader, PM Chinh expressed confidence that the visit – marking the first by a high-ranking Ethiopian official to Vietnam since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1976 – would usher in a new chapter in Vietnam–Ethiopia relations.

Reaffirming that Vietnam always values its friendship with African nations, including Ethiopia, he underscored the importance of enhancing dialogue and mutual understanding to diversify markets and foster cooperation in economics, trade, and investment.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali stressed that Ethiopia considers its relationship with Vietnam a priority in its foreign policy toward the broader Asian region, expressing a strong desire to enhance cooperation in areas where both countries share common interests and development potential.

The two leaders insisted on maintaining high-level exchanges and agreed to explore the possibility of opening diplomatic missions in each other’s country.

Recognizing that current cooperation has yet to reflect the full potential of both economies, the two sides agreed to negotiate and sign key agreements to create a solid legal foundation for economic ties.

These include agreements on free trade, investment protection and promotion, double taxation avoidance, and cybersecurity and cooperation in combating high-tech crimes.

The two PMs also agreed to exchange and propose potential investment projects in priority sectors.

In response to PM Abiy Ahmed Ali’s congratulations on Vietnam’s successful hosting of the P4G Summit, PM Chinh reiterated Vietnam’s readiness to act as a bridge in promoting cooperation between Ethiopia and ASEAN, and expressed support for Ethiopia’s plan to host the P4G Summit in 2027.

He also called on Ethiopia to support Vietnam in advancing relations with the African Union (AU) and East African nations.

On regional and international issues of mutual concern, both leaders agreed to maintain close coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums.

Regarding maritime security and safety, the two sides underscored the importance of the East Vietnam Sea and the Red Sea in international maritime navigation. They agreed that disputes must be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law to maintain peace, stability, security, and freedom of navigation and overflight in both regions.

The guest extended an official invitation to PM Chinh to visit Ethiopia in the near future to further deepen bilateral ties, which the Vietnamese leader accepted with appreciation.

After their talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of several cooperation documents.

On this occasion, the Vietnamese side presented an official letter approving Ethiopian Airlines' launch of a direct air route connecting Hanoi and Addis Ababa, marking the first direct flight between the two countries.

The new route is expected to enhance trade and connectivity between Vietnam and Ethiopia, as well as between Vietnam and the broader African continent.

Later the same day, the guest met with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam, with the two leaders discussing measures to advance bilateral cooperation.

General Secretary Lam urged both countries to identify and prioritize key areas for future collaboration, particularly in agriculture, trade, investment, science and technology, as well as people-to-people and business connections.

The PM also invited the Party leader to visit Ethiopia, and the invitation was warmly accepted.