Algiers (VNA) – The official visit to Senegal from July 22 to 24 by National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man represents a watershed moment in nearly six decades of the diplomatic relations between the two countries, expected to bolster friendship and cooperation in a deeper and more substantive fashion, according to Vietnamese Ambassador to Algeria and Senegal Tran Quoc Khanh.

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency on the threshold of the visit, the diplomat underscored the historic significance of the trip, the highest-level one since the two countries set up their diplomatic ties.

Set against the backdrop of major political and economic developments in both nations, this visit is poised to open up new cooperation opportunities.

Senegal has emerged as one of West Africa's most dynamic economies, with the International Monetary Fund projecting an impressive 8.3% growth rate for 2025, the highest in the region, Khanh remarked. The country recently completed its political apparatus through the presidential election and the appointment of a new Prime Minister and National Assembly Speaker last year. Meanwhile, Vietnam has just successfully transitioned to a two-tier local government model that officially took effect on July 1.

Beyond reinforcing cooperation between the two legislative bodies, the visit also aims to foster collaboration across multiple sectors including trade, agriculture, science - technology, and people-to-people exchanges.

Cooperation within multilateral frameworks is also an important aspect, he said, elaborating Senegal has supported Vietnam's successful nomination of Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site at the organisation's 47th session, demonstrating effective coordination between the two countries on the international stage.

Ambassador Khanh expressed optimism about cooperation prospects, noting that during the preparation for the visit, both sides have expressed their special interest in and strong determination to promote bilateral relations to a new height.

Through the visit, parliamentary cooperation will surely be strengthened and make substantive strides. Besides, many other areas like economy, sports, agriculture, and locality-to-locality ties are also being fostered.

Mentioning Vietnam and Senegal's potential role as regional gateways for each other, he highlighted that Vietnam's active membership in ASEAN, a dynamic region with impressive economic growth, positions the country as an ideal bridge for Senegal to access Southeast Asian markets.

Senegal’s important position in West Africa, coupled with its fast growing economy, an open trade policy, and founding membership in the West African Economic and Monetary Union, makes it an attractive gateway for Vietnamese businesses. Besides, as one of the leading countries in the African Continental Free Trade Area, the country offers enterprises access to a market of more than one billion people.

However, the ambassador also acknowledged challenges such as geographical distance, technical standard differences, international payment systems, and logistics infrastructure that require efforts from both Governments and business communities to overcome. He expressed his belief that with high political determination and support from ministries, sectors, and business communities of both sides, Vietnam and Senegal could become pivotal economic connectors, not just bilaterally, but across their respective regions.

One striking aspect of the burgeoning ties, he said, is the growing popularity of Vietnamese martial art Vovinam in the African country. With over 3,000 practitioners across Senegal, the country is Africa's second-largest Vovinam community after Algeria. Both peoples have shared a deep appreciation for martial arts and physical culture, which presents opportunities for closer cooperation in the future.

Discussing the vital role of the Vietnamese community in Senegal, Khanh said though numbering just over 2,000 people, the community has established deep roots and maintains strong connections to their homeland. Particularly notable is the Kim Hoi community, with families formed through Vietnamese – Senegalese marriages, who have preserved Vietnamese cultural traditions while well integrating into local society.

The ambassador also pointed out that there is a strong local interest in Vietnamese culture, particularly through the practice 🎉of Vovinam. Many Senegalese practitioners of the martial art have come to embrace Vietnamese cultural values, bringing the Vietnamese images closer to the Senegalese people./.