Vietnam and Egypt Upgrade Bilateral Relations to Comprehensive Partnership
Vietnam and Egypt have officially elevated their diplomatic relationship to a comprehensive partnership, marking a historic milestone in bilateral ties that span six decades. This landmark decision was jointly announced during the official visit of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to Vietnam, where he was warmly received by Vietnamese President Tô Lâm and other senior government officials.
The upgrade in relations underscores both nations’ commitment to deepening cooperation across a broad spectrum of areas, including trade, investment, agriculture, education, culture, and technology, as well as regional and international affairs.
A New Chapter in Bilateral Relations
During high-level talks in Hanoi, both leaders expressed mutual satisfaction with the progress made in Vietnam-Egypt relations since diplomatic ties were established in 1963. They reaffirmed the strong bonds of friendship and political trust, and agreed to expand cooperation based on shared values of sovereignty, development, and mutual respect.
The newly established comprehensive partnership will serve as a framework to enhance strategic coordination and foster more robust economic, security, and people-to-people ties.
Economic and Trade Boost
One of the key pillars of the partnership is economic collaboration, with both nations pledging to significantly boost bilateral trade, which stood at approximately $600 million in 2024. The two sides committed to facilitating greater market access, removing trade barriers, and encouraging business-to-business interactions.
A joint Vietnam-Egypt Business Forum held during the visit brought together dozens of companies from both countries. New agreements were signed in sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy and agricultural exports, particularly rice and seafood from Vietnam; and fertilizers and fruits from Egypt.
Cultural and Educational Exchanges
In addition to trade, cultural diplomacy took center stage. The two countries agreed to increase scholarships, promote Arabic and Vietnamese language education, and organize cultural festivals and academic exchanges. A memorandum of understanding was signed between Cairo University and Vietnam National University to foster academic cooperation.
Cooperation on Global and Regional Issues
Vietnam and Egypt also pledged to enhance coordination at multilateral forums such as the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the African Union-ASEAN partnership. Both countries reiterated their support for peaceful resolution of disputes and adherence to international law, particularly the UN Charter and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
A Growing Diplomatic Footprint
This latest development reflects Vietnam’s broader foreign policy of diversifying and multilateralizing international relations. For Egypt, the strengthened partnership with Vietnam is part of its strategic outreach to Asia as it seeks to diversify trade ties and investment sources amid global geopolitical shifts.
President el-Sisi’s visit marks only the second by an Egyptian head of state to Vietnam, following the historic 2017 visit to the first ever, by an Egyptian president. It also signals the rising importance of South-South cooperation among emerging economies.
Looking Ahead
Both sides agreed to set up an intergovernmental committee to regularly review progress under the comprehensive partnership framework. The committee will also coordinate new initiatives in areas like green energy, smart agriculture, digital economy, and climate resilience.
The elevation of ties between Vietnam and Egypt is expected to usher in a new era of closer, more dynamic cooperation, positioning both nations as key partners in their respective regions and beyond.
