On the occasion of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to Qatar from October 30 to November 1, Vietnamese Ambassador to Qatar Nguyen Huy Hiep gave an interview to a VNA reporter in the Middle East and North Africa about the significance of the visit, strengths in the field of cooperation as well as ways to strengthen bilateral relations.
– Could you please tell us the significance of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to Qatar? What will be the highlights of the Prime Minister’s activities and work in Qatar?
Ambassador Nguyen Huy Hiep: The visit is of special significance, being the first visit by a Vietnamese Prime Minister to Qatar in 15 years (since 2009) and 12 years after the high-level visit of the Emir of Qatar to Vietnam (in 2012). Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's choice of Qatar as the destination for his visit to the Gulf region this time is a concretization of the foreign policy of the 13th National Party Congress and an active implementation of the Project "Developing relations between Vietnam and the Middle East and Africa in the period of 2016-2025."
This visit shows that Vietnam highly appreciates Qatar's potential and role in the Middle East and the Arab world, attaches importance to the Vietnam-Qatar friendship and cooperation, and wishes to promote multi-faceted cooperation with Qatar to become more in-depth, substantive and effective.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Qatar focuses on enhancing comprehensive and extensive cooperation with Qatar in all fields, through properly assessing Qatar's current potential and position, effectively leveraging the role of the Qatari Royal Family and taking advantage of emerging cooperation opportunities between the two countries.
The visit is expected to contribute to strengthening political trust between the two countries; creating momentum, opening a new phase of cooperation in bilateral relations, especially attracting investment from Qatar to Vietnam and creating a breakthrough for Vietnamese goods and services to access the Qatari and regional markets.
The leaders of the two countries are expected to discuss measures to promote cooperation in areas such as investment, energy, aviation, agriculture, industry, food security, etc.; at the same time, discuss measures and forms to promote people-to-people exchange, cooperation in education, tourism, culture, arts, sports, etc.
With that in mind, during this visit, in addition to holding talks with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is expected to meet and work with senior Qatari leaders, along with leaders of several ministries, economic sectors, and large corporations and enterprises of Qatar.
– How do you assess the prospects of cooperation between Vietnam and Qatar, especially in areas where both sides have strengths? Which areas will be the focus of cooperation between the two countries in the coming time, Ambassador?
Ambassador Nguyen Huy Hiep: Vietnam and Qatar have many opportunities, potentials and benefits in further strengthening bilateral cooperation for the prosperity of the people of both countries and for peace, stability and development in each region. I believe that Vietnam and Qatar can now focus on deepening bilateral relations in the following key areas:
Firstly, energy and renewable energy are one of the key sectors. With rich oil and gas resources, financial and technological potential, Qatar can cooperate with Vietnam in technology transfer and development of energy projects, especially renewable energy.
Second, the trade and investment sector between the two countries also has great potential to be promoted in the coming time. Vietnam, with its rapidly growing economy, attractive investment environment, and open-door policies, can be an attractive destination for Qatari investors in the industrial, agricultural and service sectors.
Vietnam is currently in the top 40 leading economies in the world, and the top 20 countries with the largest trade turnover in the world. Vietnam is an important link in 16 free trade agreements (FTAs) involving 60 major economies in the region and the world, and is the most preferred investment destination among emerging and developing countries in Asia. Vietnam is ready and has full potential to become an important partner of Qatar.
Third, Halal is also a potential direction for cooperation. Both countries are aiming to build the Halal industry into an important industry of the national economy. Vietnam has issued a strategy on enhancing international cooperation to develop Vietnam's Halal industry by 2030, while Qatar has also issued a Halal Livelihood Program to make Qatar a global center for the Halal industry in the near future.
Fourth is the field of education and research. Vietnam and Qatar can organize student and lecturer exchange programs, cooperate in scientific and technological research to improve the qualifications and competitiveness of both sides.
Fifth is tourism and cultural cooperation. The two countries have cultural diversity and are both very interested in cultural development. Vietnam and Qatar can organize exchange events and tourism promotion to enhance understanding and cooperation between the two peoples.
– Mr. Ambassador, what are the difficulties, advantages and opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises to bring goods to the Qatar market? What specific cooperation mechanisms should the two countries promote to further strengthen bilateral economic and trade relations?
Ambassador Nguyen Huy Hiep: Qatar has a vibrant and rapidly developing commodity market, and is also a gateway connecting to other commodity consumption markets in the region. Vietnam has experience in producing and exporting goods that Qatar has demand for such as agricultural products, food, processed products; electronic components, textiles, footwear; machinery, etc. In general, in the coming time, Qatar will still have high demand for these items and Vietnamese enterprises can promote increased exports to this market.
Another advantage is in terms of policy. Currently, the senior leaders of the two countries have been paying much attention to strengthening economic and trade relations, committing to open markets and creating conditions for each side's goods to access the other's market. This is an important foundation, paving the way for more favorable and open policies to support Vietnamese and Qatari businesses to connect with partners and conduct business and investment activities in each country.
The Qatari market has similarities with other Gulf markets, including regulations on Halal standards for processed foods. However, the Qatari market also has its own characteristics in terms of size, population composition, and consumer tastes, which create certain difficulties for Vietnam. Qatar's population is small, of which 85% are immigrants, mainly from South Asia.
Therefore, Vietnamese goods face fierce competition from countries with similar export structures and a solid foothold here, notably Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Oman, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, etc.
In this context, in addition to quality, businesses need to consider factors such as price, taste diversity, design, etc. to create competitiveness. The Embassy encourages businesses to study the market, directly assess local tastes and consumer trends to have appropriate strategies.
Currently, the two countries still maintain and promote existing cooperation mechanisms, including the Joint Economic, Trade and Technical Committee. In addition, the two countries are also studying and considering more specific cooperation mechanisms for each area of interest such as labor, trade, investment, etc., and with each Qatari partner, both public and private sectors.
The Embassy believes that the new cooperation mechanisms promoted by the two countries will contribute to developing the bilateral relationship more deeply and substantially in the coming time.
- Thank you very much, Ambassador./.
(Vietnam+)
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/dai-su-nguyen-huy-hiep-viet-nam-va-qatar-co-nhieu-co-hoi-tiem-nang-post988193.vnp
Comment (0)