“Vietnam always treasures traditional friendship and solidarity with African people, comrades in arms during the struggle against colonialism,” Mr Khiem told the African diplomatic corps at the event.

Ambassador Naceur Boucherit said he strongly believes in the further development of friendship between Vietnam and African countries. He added that the relationship will bring in great and practical results in the interests of African nations and Vietnam as well as for the sake of peace, stability and development in their regions and the world as a whole.

The event to mark the foundation of the United Africa Organisation (OAU), now the African Union (AU), on May 25, 1963, was co-sponsored by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Vietnam-Africa Friendship and Cooperation Association.

Ties between Vietnam and Africa have stood the test of time as thousands of experts and workers from the Asian nation have assisted African bloc members in education, health care, agriculture and construction.

In agriculture, Vietnamese experts have transferred wet rice farming and animal husbandry techniques to farmers in some of the African countries.