This is the second visit to Viet Nam by the President of the NA of Côte d’Ivoire in three years and the first time the Ivorian NA has sent a delegation to Viet Nam for study and experience sharing with the Vietnamese National Assembly. This underscores Côte d’Ivoire’s high regard for Viet Nam’s position and role in general and for the role of the Vietnamese NA in particular.
The visit is a practical step to davance the outcomes of discussions between the two NA leaders on the sidelines of the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-152) in Türkiye in April 2026, as well as to continue implementing the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the two legislatures.
Hosting the President of the NA of Côte d’Ivoire on an official visit to Viet Nam advances the implementation of the foreign policy adopted at the 14th National Party Congress; Politburo’s Resolution No. 06-NQ/TW on implementing the foreign policy of the 14th National Party Congress; Politburo’s Resolution No.59-NQ/TW on international integration in the new context; and the project on “Developing Viet Nam’s relations with African countries for the 2026–2030 period, with a vision to 2035”. The visit is also designed to fortify ties and political trust and consolidate the foundation for cooperation with important partners in Africa, among which Côte d’Ivoire is a priority partner.
Côte d’Ivoire plays an important role in West Africa and boasts one of the region’s most dynamic economies. In terms of economics, the country has registered one of the fastest growth rates on the continent over the past decade and is widely acknowledged for possessing a relatively favourable business environment in the region. Regarding foreign affairs, Côte d’Ivoire prioritises economic diplomacy and the mobilisation of external resources for national development, while seeking to consolidate its position as a leading economic powerhouse in West Africa.
Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1975, Viet Nam and Côte d’Ivoire have steadily nurtured robust relations based on mutual respect, friendship, and effective cooperation. The two countries share many similarities in their histories of struggles for independence and their common aspirations for peace and development.
In recent years, relations between Viet Nam and Côte d’Ivoire have sustained positive momentum. The two sides have made significant progress in bilateral cooperation, marked by extensive political dialogue, robust economic cooperation, and mutual support at international forums, particularly the United Nations, the International Organisation of La Francophonie, and the Non-Aligned Movement.
Despite the geographical distance, friendship and cooperation between the two countries have steadily deepened through all channels, with parliamentary cooperation playing an increasingly prominent role in overall bilateral relations.
Before 2023, the two legislatures primarily maintained contacts at multilateral parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF). Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in June 2023, relations between the NAs of Viet Nam and Côte d’Ivoire have advanced significantly, with regular delegation exchanges and high-level contacts.
The robust relationship between the two legislatures plays an important role in consolidating political trust, strengthening bilateral economic cooperation, and fostering closer ties among ministries, sectors, and business communities of the two countries, thereby empowering both sides to translate their development goals into concrete results in the new era.
The strong friendship and high level of political trust establish a solid foundation for Viet Nam and Côte d’Ivoire to expand trade and investment cooperation and achieve encouraging results. Côte d’Ivoire was Viet Nam’s largest trading partner in Africa in 2025. Two-way trade reached nearly 2 billion USD in 2025, an increase of nearly 50% compared with 2023. Beyond trade, considerable potential remains for cooperation in various other fields, particularly mineral resources and oil and gas.
The Vietnamese community in Côte d’Ivoire comprises around 300 people. The Ivorian Government has approved official recognition for the Association of Vietnamese People in Côte d’Ivoire, authorising it to operate legally.
The official visit to Viet Nam by President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire Patrick Achi signifies an important milestone and a new stage in the friendship between Viet Nam and Côte d’Ivoire, which has flourished over more than half a century.
Through the visit, parliamentary diplomacy continues to affirm its role as an important pillar of bilateral relations, serving to further deepen political trust and promote economic cooperation, thereby advancing Viet Nam–Côte d’Ivoire relations in an increasingly substantive, effective, and comprehensive manner. These achievements establish a solid foundation and strong impetus for the two countries to move confidently forward on a new path of development.
