The second meeting of the Vietnam-Africa Friendship and Cooperation Association (VAFCA) for the second term (2013-2018), held recently in Hanoi, attracted many officials, professionals and companies that want to do business in Africa. In the context that Vietnam and the African countries have been experiencing positive developments in cooperation relations with an increasing number of high- ranking visits and more efficient trade promotion, the meeting is a good opportunity to promote people-to-people relations between Vietnam and Africa.
VAFCA was established on November 12, 2004 to implement the foreign people-to-people policies, with special focus on the common goals and directions set out in the National Action Plan to promote the Vietnam- African relations in the period of 2004 and 2010.
The first meeting of VAFCA, held on May 27, 2005, elected the Central Executive Committee for the first term, which consists of 35 representatives from many ministries and central branches. Mr Hua Duc Nhi, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development was voted the first president.
During the operation, VAFCA has promoted many practical activities, helping to strengthen diplomatic relations between Vietnamese and the peoples of the African countries. The association has organised many diplomatic missions of the African countries to Vietnam to help them understand the socio-economic situation of Thai Nguyen province and provide the necessary information, particularly related to the priority areas of the province, to encourage the ambassadors to inform those to their business community
The association has also held many meetings and friendship seminars, painting competitions, photo exhibitions, and documentary about the countries and the people of the Africa to celebrate the National Day of these countries. Annually, the Association is in collaboration with the Embassies of African countries to celebrate the Africa Day (May 25), with the participation of senior representatives of Vietnam and the relevant departments.
In addition, the Association has held many meetings between the delegations of the Union and the Association and the leaders of African countries on their visits as well as the working days between the diplomatic and specialist groups of the African countries on their business trips to Vietnam. The Association also maintains close relationship and proactive contacts and communication with the embassies of the African countries in Vietnam for important events as well as participates in the activities, organised by the embassies.
At the 2nd meeting, the Central Executive Committee was elected with 32 members. Mr Le Duong Quang, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade was elected as the chairman of VAFCA in the term of 2013-2018.
According to Mr Don Tuan Phong, Standing Vice President of the Union of Vietnam Friendship Organisations, for the past term, VAFCA has made great efforts and the results of the Association has contributed to promote the friendship and strengthen the cooperation between the people of Vietnam and the people of Africa.
According to Mr Phong, in the next term, the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Africa should be promoted positively and proactively. It should be focused on seeking new partners, particularly in the business sector, renewing the content and forms to improve the efficiency of the foreign affairs and combining the external information and foreign affairs to enhance the understanding between two sides. In addition, the Association also needs to focus on strengthening the organizational structure, gathering forces to achieve the goals of the external relations, expanding the scope to more provinces and regions of the country, and developing the facilities at the ministries and departments which have cooperation with the African countries or forming the clubs that are enrolled by the people having worked and studied in some countries such as Algeria, Angola and Mozambique.
On this occasion, on behalf of the Presidium of the Union of Vietnam Friendship Organizations, Mr Phong granted the "For peace and friendship between peoples" medal for the leaders of the Association for their positive contribution to the promotion of the friendship and cooperation ties between the people of Vietnam and the peoples of the African countries.
According VAFCA, the economic and trade relations between Vietnam and the African countries have developed drastically. The trade turnover of Vietnam and Africa has increased from US$2.07 billion in 2009 to US$4.77 billion in 2011 and US$3.6 billion in 2012.
Vietnamese businesses have been looking for the investment opportunities in Africa in some areas such as the oil and gas exploration and extraction, motorcycle manufacturing and assembling, farm equipment manufacturing, and provisions of the telecom services. There are a total of 17 projects worth nearly US$1.2 billion.
In fact, the cooperation between Vietnam and Africa has proved many advantages that complement each other for mutual development. Africa is a region with high potential to meet the needs of Vietnam in terms of material resources, fuels, diversification of the export markets for goods, services, labour and investment. The two sides have established a quite good legal framework as a basis for developing and strengthening a comprehensive trade partnership. Many agreements and provisions were signed in order to create a legal framework for cooperation between the two sides.
Quynh Chi
Vietnamese
