Acceleration, breakthrough in ties between Vietnam and Middle East countries
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has concluded his successful working trip to three Middle East countries - the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and Qatar from October 27 to November 1 at the invitation of the UAE President, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, and Qatari Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA)𝄹 – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has concluded his successful working trip to three Middle East countries - the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and Qatar from October 27 to November 1 at the invitation of the UAE President, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, and Qatari Prime Minister.
Late last year, Chinh made working trips to attend international meetings and conduct bilateral activities in Middle East countries. Those trips were considered the opening step for a new phase in relations between Vietnam and Middle East countries. So, his latest tour of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar is a favourable prelude to a period of acceleration and breakthrough in the ties between Vietnam and the three countries.
Mindset, vision, time, intelligence
During the six-day tour, the PM had a various, substantive and effective working programme with nearly 60 activities, including talks and meetings senior leaders of countries, working sessions with leaders of ministries, organisations, major groups and funds of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
At the talks and meetings, leaders of these nations welcomed the Vietnamese PM with many special exceptions, indicating that they highly valued their relationships with Vietnam in their "Look East" policy and regarded Vietnam as a key partner in Southeast Asia.
The leaders of the three countries agreed to strongly promote relations with Vietnam, considering it a gateway for countries to enter Southeast Asia, and from the three countries, Vietnam can expand cooperation with countries in the Middle East and North Africa. In particular, Vietnam and the UAE upgraded their relations to a Comprehensive Partnership and signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Vietnam and Saudi Arabia and Qatar agreed to soon promote upgrading relations to new heights.
According to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, the visits by the PM to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have created new momentum, opening up many cooperation opportunities between Vietnam and the three countries in new areas. In addition to traditional, fundamental fields such as politics, diplomacy, defence, security, labour, oil and gas, agriculture, education and training, tourism, people-to-people exchange, they have identified additional pillars of future cooperation in economics, trade, and investment, with emerging sectors such as innovation, green transition, digital transformation, and Halal industry development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivers a speech at the eighth FII in Saudi Arabia. (Photo: VNA)
During the working trip, the PM delivered a speech at the eighth FII in Saudi Arabia, and a policy speech at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA) in Abu Dhabi, the UAE; attended the Vietnam – UAE business forum and the brand launch of Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) maker Vinfast, and the inauguration ceremony of Vietnamese tech giant FPT's Middle East regional office in Saudi Arabia, and visited Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial city.
At these events, Chinh shared his views on the world’s situation and development trends, Vietnam's relations with other countries and its development orientations and goals. He affirmed Vietnam's responsibility and called on the world community and the three Middle Eastern countries in particular to cooperate with Vietnam in various fields for a future of sustainable development and prosperity.
Words accompanied by actions
At the meetings and talks, the leaders of Vietnam and the three countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in all fields, particularly economic, trade and investment cooperation. Leaders of the countries play a building role, so businesses engage in promoting economic ties, with specific cooperation projects to eye the goals of 20 billion USD in two-way trade between Vietnam and the UAE and 10 billion USD in two-way trade between Vietnam and Saudi Arabia, as well as create make a breakthrough in trade and investment between Vietnam - Qatar.
Leaders of countries have played a constructive role, promoting economic relations must be done by businesses, with specific cooperation projects to soon set the target of trade turnover between Vietnam and the UAE reaching 20 billion USD, between Vietnam and Saudi Arabia increased to 10 billion USD, and there was a breakthrough in trade and investment between Vietnam and Qatar.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jasim Al-Thani witness the signing of some documents of cooperation between the two countries. (Photo: VNA)
With the determination to accelerate and realise high-level agreements, during the trip, the Vietnamese PM worked with the leaders of ministries, agencies, investment funds, and large corporations of the three countries to promote cooperation in all fields. Authorities and and businesses from the three countries showed their interest in and highly valued Vietnam's development potential, affirming their intention to send delegations to Vietnam immediately to explore investment and business opportunities.
Vietnam and the three countries signed and exchanged 33 cooperation documents in trade, investment, finance, energy, innovation, education, sports, and cooperation between businesses, creating a foundation for promoting their cooperation in the coming time.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said that the signing of cooperation documents has opened up prospects and opportunities for Vietnamese goods to access markets in other countries, thus Vietnam can expand to markets in the Middle East, Africa and southern Europe.
According to the minister, along with the signed documents, the Gulf countries and partner countries have expressed their desire to initiate negotiations to sign free trade agreements with Vietnam. Their politicians and entrepreneurs expressed their wish to strengthen economic, trade and investment cooperation with Vietnam, especially in such areas as energy, minerals, oil and gas, industry, strategic infrastructure for transportation, digital infrastructure, and green transition.
Also during his working trip, the PM met with staff of the Vietnamese Embassies and representatives of the Vietnamese community in the three countries, informing them about the homeland’s situation and listening to their aspirations.
He affirmed that the Party and the State consider overseas Vietnamese an inseparable part of the nation, and always commit to caring for the people, whether they are at home or abroad.
The PM’s visits to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have effectively implemented the foreign policy set by the 13th National Party Congress, contributing to strengthening political trust, elevating relations, and creating breakthroughs in ties between Vietnam and countries in the coming time in various fields, and opening up a period of acceleration and breakthrough in new cooperation between Vietnam and countries./.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his spouse and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam returned to Hanoi on November 1 evening, concluding their official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), attendance at the 8th Edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) and working trip to Saudi Arabia, and official visit to Qatar.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s freshly ended six-day trip to the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar has produced important outcomes, demonstrating the growing relations between Vietnam and the three Middle-East countries, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son told the Vietnam News Agency.
Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), has called on the UN Security Council to stay united and intensify efforts to ease tensions and end hostilities in the entire Middle East.
Stronger efforts and determination are required to achieve and surpass the set targets, especially in the eradication of makeshift and dilapidated houses nationwide, the acceleration of public investment disbursement, and the implementation of nationally important transport projects, PM Pham Minh Chinh noted.
The trip will be made at the invitations of Chinese Premier Li Qiang and WEF President and CEO Børge Brende, according to an announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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Reality is the ultimate benchmark for success, he said, urging drafting agencies to work out policies that foster development, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and respect practical conditions.
Under the official dispatch signed on June 20, ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, and chairpersons of provincial and municipal People’s Committees are requested to concentrate efforts on implementing core measures to ensure the smooth operations of the new administrative framework.
The Party chief underscored the need for the press to innovate relentlessly, evolve to keep pace with the country's development, transform into a truly professional, humanistic, and modern sector that serves the cause of the Party, the State, and the people on the path to national construction and development.
The UN Secretary-General praised Vietnam’s remarkable achievements in socio-economic development and international integration in recent years, noting that the country has emerged as a model in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting international peace and security, and engaging in key UN processes.
Nghia affirmed that this is a milestone of special significance, affirming and honouring the the Vietnamese revolutionary press’s glorious tradition of 100 years of serving the revolutionary cause of the Party, serving the Fatherland, and serving the people.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
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Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
Deputy PM Le Thanh Long proposed countries promote shared values, including building trust, sincerity, and solidarity among nations and peoples; fostering cooperation spirit and responsible behaviour as well as upholding international law and the UN Charter; and placing people at the centre and as the goal, the key player, and the driving force of all policies.
The show, together with a grand parade to be held silmutaneously at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, the National Day, and the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
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The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel is closely coordinating with relevant local agencies to stay informed and provide the utmost support possible for Vietnamese nationals.
