NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man will pay official visits to Senegal and Morocco, attend the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, and engage in bilateral activities in Switzerland from July 22-30.

The visits are made at the invitation of President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Tulia Ackson, IPU Secretary-General Martin Chungong, Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives Rachid Talbi Alami, and Speaker of the Senegalese National Assembly El Malick Ndiaye.

At a recent media interview, Deputy FM Giang said the 6th IPU speakers’ conference is the largest gathering of parliamentary leaders worldwide in 2025, with the participation of over 110 parliamentary speakers. This year’s theme reflects the shared concerns of the international community amid a highly complex global context, and expresses a desire to enhance the role of multilateral parliamentary diplomacy in shaping policy, overseeing legislation, and promoting peace, cooperation, and development for the benefit of people around the world.

Given these factors, it can be affirmed that Chairman Tran Thanh Man’s working visit carries great importance in both bilateral and multilateral dimensions, as reflected in the following aspects:

On the bilateral front, this will be top Vietnamese legislator’s first overseas mission in his current role, including visits to Switzerland, Morocco, and Senegal. The visit to Morocco marks the first official one by a senior Vietnamese leader in six years, while the visit to Senegal will be the first since the two countries established diplomatic relations.

The working visit is expected to help consolidate and further deepen the friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation between Vietnam and Senegal, Morocco, and Switzerland; and strengthen Vietnam’s partnerships with both Africa and Europe. It also presents an opportunity for Vietnam to diversify economic and trade ties, expand cooperation in various areas, including parliamentary diplomacy, with its partners in Senegal, Morocco, and Switzerland, attract greater international resources to serve national development goals in this new era of growth, and enhance the image and standing of both Vietnam and its National Assembly on the global stage.

Multilaterally, the trip is part of Vietnam’s implementation of its foreign policy direction as set by the 13th National Party Congress, which promotes independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification, and active, comprehensive, deep, and effective international integration. It also aligns with Politburo Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW on international integration in the new context and Directive No. 25-CT/TW on strengthening and elevating multilateral diplomacy by 2030.

The visit will reaffirm Vietnam’s policies and strong efforts in socio- economic development, upholding multilateralism, and asserting its role as a responsible, active, and substantive member of the IPU and the United Nations. At the same time, it will foster parliamentary relations with other countries and international organizations as a contribution to enhancing Vietnam’s position and the role of its National Assembly in the international arena.

Vietnam will also bring to the conference its own practical experience and success stories in maintaining peace, ensuring stability, and promoting national development, while deepening international integration, advancing external relations, respecting international law, and contributing to global solidarity and cooperation for peace and prosperity across all nations, regions, and the world as a whole, the Vietnamese diplomat said.

Commenting on Vietnam’s relations with the three countries involved in this trip, Deputy Minister Dang Hoang Giang noted that Vietnam has long maintained strong and cooperative ties with Senegal, Morocco, and Switzerland.

Since establishing diplomatic ties in 1969, Vietnam and Senegal have maintained a friendly relationship, working closely and supporting each other at multilateral forums such as the United Nations, the Francophonie, and the IPU. In recent years, bilateral economic cooperation has made positive strides. In the first half of 2025 alone, Vietnam’s exports to Senegal reached nearly US$60 million, three times higher than the same period in 2024. Chairman Tran Thanh Man’s visit is expected to create fresh impetus for more substantive bilateral cooperation, especially in the economic sphere and within multilateral mechanisms where Senegal plays an active role, as well as between the two countries’ legislative bodies.

Vietnam–Morocco relations have grown steadily across all three diplomatic channels, Party, State, and people-to-people exchange, since diplomatic ties were established nearly 65 years ago. The two countries frequently coordinate positions and offer mutual support at international forums. Inter-parliamentary cooperation has developed effectively at both bilateral and multilateral levels. Morocco is now Vietnam’s second-largest trading partner in North Africa, with bilateral trade increasing steadily each year. The visit by the NA Chairman is expected to give added impetus to further cooperation, especially in trade, investment, agriculture, and tourism, with the two sides aiming to raise bilateral trade to US$500 million in the coming years.

Vietnam–Switzerland relations have also seen positive development across a variety of fields since diplomatic ties were established more than 50 years ago. In terms of trade, Switzerland is one of Vietnam’s leading partners within the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), with two-way trade reaching US$811 million in 2024 and US$375 million in the first five months of 2025. Swiss investment in Vietnam has surpassed US$2.1 billion, ranking sixth among European investors and 20th among 147 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.

Notably, in January 2025, during the 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter agreed to establish a Comprehensive Partnership between the two countries. On this basis, Vietnam and Switzerland will step up delegation exchanges at all levels, accelerate negotiations for a Vietnam–EFTA Free Trade Agreement, and expand cooperation in areas such as education, training, science and technology, culture, tourism, and climate change response.

Deputy FM Dang Hoang Giang expressed his belief that Chairman Tran Thanh Man’s working trip, which includes attending the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, conducting bilateral activities in Switzerland, and paying official visits to Senegal and Morocco, will be a success in all aspects, leaving a strong impression of Vietnam’s and its legislature’s role, stature, and practical contributions to dealing with today’s global challenges.

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