Hanoi (VNA) – An international seminar on “Africa and the Middle East’s Policytowards Asia and Cooperation Opportunities for Vietnam” was held by the VietnamAcademy of Social Sciences (VASS) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hanoion November 15.
As African and MiddleEastern countries are moving boldly in the direction of “Look East” policieswith a greater focus on cooperation with Vietnam, it is vital for Vietnameseacademics, policymakers and businesses to have a clear understanding of thepolicies so as to make the most of the benefits resulting from cooperation withthese regions, said VASS President, Prof. PhD. Nguyen Quang Thuan.
Vietnam is a pillar forthe “Look East” policies of Africa and the Middle East, said Ambassador ofAngola to Vietnam Joao Manuel Bernardo. The diplomat expects Vietnam, togetherwith Angola and more broadly Africa, will develop a new model of cooperation,in which both sides will help each other to transform from exporters of rawmaterials to industrial manufacturers to produce a larger quantity of goods andmore employment.
Deputy Minister ofForeign Affairs Nguyen Phuong Nga said Vietnam and countries in Africa and theMiddle East have many advantages to supplement each other. Vietnam has seensignificant socio-economic development in recent years as the country is one ofthe top leaders in GDP growth among ASEAN and Asian nations, averaging 6-7percent annually, she noted, adding that last year, its GDP exceeded 220billion USD, while the FDI injection hit over 36 billion USD.
Over the last threeyears, trade between Vietnam and African and Middle Eastern countries increasedsharply, from 16.25 billion USD in 2016 to 18.65 billion USD in 2017, withVietnam enjoying a trade surplus. Vietnam has remained an annual two-way tradeturnover of over 1 billion USD with six countries, including Turkey, Israel,and South Africa.
As of June 2018, thetotal FDI from Vietnam to the region had reached more than 2.6 billion USD.
During the seminar,participants focused their discussion on the trends of the “Look East” policiesin Africa and the Middle East, as well as some of the challenges facingVietnamese enterprises to boost investment and trade in these regions. –VNA
As African and MiddleEastern countries are moving boldly in the direction of “Look East” policieswith a greater focus on cooperation with Vietnam, it is vital for Vietnameseacademics, policymakers and businesses to have a clear understanding of thepolicies so as to make the most of the benefits resulting from cooperation withthese regions, said VASS President, Prof. PhD. Nguyen Quang Thuan.
Vietnam is a pillar forthe “Look East” policies of Africa and the Middle East, said Ambassador ofAngola to Vietnam Joao Manuel Bernardo. The diplomat expects Vietnam, togetherwith Angola and more broadly Africa, will develop a new model of cooperation,in which both sides will help each other to transform from exporters of rawmaterials to industrial manufacturers to produce a larger quantity of goods andmore employment.
Deputy Minister ofForeign Affairs Nguyen Phuong Nga said Vietnam and countries in Africa and theMiddle East have many advantages to supplement each other. Vietnam has seensignificant socio-economic development in recent years as the country is one ofthe top leaders in GDP growth among ASEAN and Asian nations, averaging 6-7percent annually, she noted, adding that last year, its GDP exceeded 220billion USD, while the FDI injection hit over 36 billion USD.
Over the last threeyears, trade between Vietnam and African and Middle Eastern countries increasedsharply, from 16.25 billion USD in 2016 to 18.65 billion USD in 2017, withVietnam enjoying a trade surplus. Vietnam has remained an annual two-way tradeturnover of over 1 billion USD with six countries, including Turkey, Israel,and South Africa.
As of June 2018, thetotal FDI from Vietnam to the region had reached more than 2.6 billion USD.
During the seminar,participants focused their discussion on the trends of the “Look East” policiesin Africa and the Middle East, as well as some of the challenges facingVietnamese enterprises to boost investment and trade in these regions. –VNA
VNA