By Joy Odor, Abuja
Nigeria has congratulated the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on the occasion of its 80th Independence Anniversary, reaffirming commitment to deepen bilateral ties with the Southeast Asian nation as both countries mark nearly five decades of diplomatic relations.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, extended warm felicitations to Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, His Excellency Bùi Thanh Sơn, describing the milestone as “a testament to the resilience, unity, and determination of the Vietnamese people in their pursuit of sovereignty, peace, and national development.”
Nigeria, he said, stands in solidarity with Vietnam in celebrating its journey from struggle to strength, underscoring shared values of freedom, progress, and global cooperation.
Tuggar reaffirmed its readiness to expand areas of partnership, strengthen people-to-people ties, and push for closer collaboration in global affairs.
“We wish the Government and people of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam peace, prosperity, and progress,” Tuggar said, assuring Nigeria’s continuing friendship and support.
Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1976 during Vietnam’s reunification struggle, relations between both nations have steadily expanded.
With embassies opened in each other’s capitals in 2007, Nigeria and Vietnam now enjoy robust cooperation in trade, agriculture, education, investment, and multilateral diplomacy.
Vietnam has emerged as a key trade partner, with bilateral trade volume reaching about $1 billion as of the last quarter of 2024.
Beyond trade, Nigeria and Vietnam have worked hand-in-hand at the United Nations and other multilateral platforms to promote peace, sustainable development, and South-South cooperation.
