Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks during a phone call with Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco on March 16. (Photo: Lai Hoa/ VOV)

PM Chinh voiced deep concern over the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, noting its serious impacts on the global economy, including Vietnam. In this context, he said, countries outside the conflict zone but still affected by its impacts, such as Vietnam and Angola, need to strengthen solidarity and cooperation in order to mobilise resources and overcome common challenges.
He suggested Angola provide additional crude oil and gas supplies for Vietnam. He also proposed closer coordination in accelerating the implementation of a memorandum of understanding on oil and gas cooperation between the Petrovietnam Exploration Production Corporation (PVEP) and Sonangol E&P of Angola, as well as in facilitating oil and gas exploitation activities involving Vietnam's Xuan Thien Group.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (C) holds phone talks with Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco on March 16. (Photo: Lai Hoa)

Regarding bilateral relations, PM Chinh asked the two sides to maintain close coordination to fruitfully carry out in the commitments and agreements reached during the state visit to Angola by President Luong Cuong in August 2025, especially in trade, investment, agriculture, mining and energy security, helping raise bilateral trade to 1 billion USD soon, in line with the joint statement on orientations for developing Vietnam-Angola relations in the new period.

He suggested the countries further promote the implementation of existing cooperation mechanisms such as the Intergovernmental Committee and the political consultation between the two foreign ministries. They should also speed up negotiations so as to sign an agreement on investment promotion and protection, and another on double taxation avoidance.

Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco (Photo: Lai Hoa)
President Lourenco reaffirmed Angola’s high regard for the sound friendship and fruitful cooperation with Vietnam, saying that his country is willing to explore new opportunities for cooperation between the two economies. The Angolan leader agreed with PM Chinh’s assessment of the Middle East situation, stressing that affected countries should enhance coordination to mitigate its negative impacts. Sharing Vietnam’s concerns over challenges to ensuring energy security amid the current context, he agreed with PM Chinh’s proposal to further strengthen energy cooperation between the two countries in the time to come.