According to a statement from Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the invitation of President Luong Cuong and the First Lady, President of Burundi Evariste Ndayishimiye and the First Lady will pay an official visit to Vietnam from April 3 to 6.

Burundi is a landlocked country located in Central Africa.

Vietnam and Burundi established diplomatic relations on April 16, 1975. In recent years, the relationship between the two countries has seen positive development, particularly since Viettel launched its Lumitel telecommunications project in Burundi in 2014.

President Evariste Ndayishimiye has expressed great admiration for Vietnam’s history of national liberation and its achievements in development. He regards Vietnam as a model for developing countries.

During his meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York in September 2023, President Ndayishimiye agreed on the need to promote bilateral cooperation, focusing on trade and investment.

Bilateral trade between the two countries reached over USD 2 million in 2024. Vietnam primarily exports machinery, equipment, spare parts, computers, and electronic components (approximately USD 1 million), while importing ores, minerals, and animal feed (around USD 1 million).

Viettel began investing in Burundi in 2013 through a joint venture. In June 2015, Viettel Burundi officially launched a nationwide mobile network under the brand Lumitel.

After 11 years in operation, Lumitel has developed a nationwide infrastructure with 592 BTS stations (2G, 3G, 4G), 1.5 times more than the second-largest provider, covering 95% of the population. The company aims to expand its 4G coverage to over 50% of the population by 2025. Lumitel currently provides stable jobs and income for more than 60,000 workers and supports an additional 100,000 indirect jobs through its distribution channels, stores, and agents.

The two countries regularly coordinate and support each other at the United Nations and other international forums. Notably, Burundi backed Vietnam’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2020–2021 term and for a seat on the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for the 2023–2027 term.

Vietnam and Burundi have signed a visa exemption agreement for holders of diplomatic and official passports (June 2022), as well as a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in information and communications (December 2024).

Tran Thuong