Solomon Islands appoints Vo Viet Cuong as Viet Nam’s Honorary Consul to strengthen bilateral ties, trade and investment.
Solomon Islands and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam have taken a further step towards strengthening their bilateral relations with the formal appointment of Mr Vo Viet Cuong as Viet Nam’s Honorary Consul to Solomon Islands.
At the appointment ceremony on Monday (13th October 2026), the Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Rick Houenipwela, congratulated Mr Cuong on his appointment, recognising the trust and confidence placed in him by the Government of Viet Nam to represent its interests in Solomon Islands.
“This appointment further demonstrates the shared commitment of Solomon Islands and Viet Nam to deepening their cooperation in trade, investment, development and people-to-people connections,” Minister Houenipwela said.
The appointment marks an important milestone in relations between the two countries, which established diplomatic ties in 1996 and provides new opportunities to expand cooperation across areas of mutual interest.
Minister Houenipwela said Mr Cuong’s longstanding presence in the Honiara community, experience as an entrepreneur and leadership in establishing the Solomon Islands Vietnamese Association would be valuable in strengthening engagement between the two countries.
“His established networks across government, the private sector and the wider community, together with his understanding of both Vietnamese and Solomon Islands contexts, positions him well to serve as a bridge between our two countries and peoples,” the Minister said.
The establishment of the Honorary Consul post in Honiara will also provide an accessible point of contact for Vietnamese nationals in Solomon Islands and support closer engagement between the two countries.
Solomon Islands sees opportunities to expand economic partnerships with Viet Nam, a potentially important trading partner in Southeast Asia. Priority areas for further cooperation include agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries, renewable energy, trade facilitation and investment, training and capacity building, alongside cultural exchanges and stronger people-to-people connections.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade looks forward to working closely with Mr Cuong and his Honorary Consul office to advance mutually beneficial partnerships and strengthen the longstanding friendship between Solomon Islands and Viet Nam.
—MFAET PRESS RELEASE
