Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and First Lady Zinash Tayachew arrived in Vietnam’s capital Hanoi on Monday, marking the first official visit by an Ethiopian head of government since diplomatic ties were established between the two nations in 1976.
The four-day visit, made at the invitation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, includes Ethiopia’s participation in the 2025 Partnership for Green Growth and the Global Goals (P4G) Summit. The summit brings together world leaders to discuss sustainable development and climate resilience.
According to Vietnamese state media, the visit also signals a renewed push to strengthen relations between Ethiopia and Vietnam, with this being the first high-level government exchange in seven years. Prime Minister Abiy has previously expressed interest in expanding cooperation with Southeast Asian countries, particularly in trade, technology, and green growth.
Trade between the two countries has remained modest, hovering between $10 and $15 million annually over the past four years. However, economic ties are gradually growing. Vietnamese tech firm MK Group currently holds a majority stake in a joint venture that manufactures smart cards in Ethiopia. The partnership has opened doors for cooperation in cybersecurity, digital ID, and national defense technologies.
Political relations also feature prominently in the visit. Ethiopia’s ruling Prosperity Party maintains links with the Communist Party of Vietnam, continuing a tradition of party-to-party diplomacy dating back to the era of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF).
Observers note that the visit could lay the groundwork for new trade and investment agreements, as Ethiopia positions itself as a gateway to East Africa and a rising player in green energy and digital innovation.
The P4G Summit, hosted this year in Hanoi, is expected to focus on climate finance, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy partnerships—areas where Ethiopia seeks both technical support and investment.