Creating new momentum to promote cooperation between Vietnam and UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia

At the invitation of President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Prime Minister of the State of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jasim Al-Thani and Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed Bin Salman, today, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife along with a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam began an official visit to the UAE and the State of Qatar, to attend the 8th Future Investment Initiative Conference and to pay a working visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This is the first official visit of a Vietnamese Prime Minister to the UAE and Qatar in 15 years and the first working visit to Saudi Arabia since the two countries established diplomatic relations. This is also the first time Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is the main guest and the only senior Asian leader to speak at the 8th Future Investment Initiative Conference organized by Saudi Arabia.

The UAE is focusing on reforms to reduce dependence on oil, diversify the economy, especially digital transformation, green transformation, innovation and become the largest economy in the Middle East in the non-oil sector. In the Middle East-North Africa region, the UAE plays an important role, promoting ties with the Arab bloc and the Gulf. In recent years, the UAE has proactively promoted the trend of détente in the region; implemented an Eastward policy, attaching importance to relations with Asian countries, including Vietnam.

Cooperation between Vietnam and the UAE has developed well, with the two countries regularly exchanging delegations at all levels. The UAE is the first country in the Middle East-Africa region with which Vietnam has discussed upgrading relations to a new level. Economically, the UAE is Vietnam's largest export market in the Middle East-Africa region, with bilateral trade turnover in 2023 reaching 4.7 billion USD, up 6.8% compared to 2022. The two countries launched negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in June 2023. As of June 2024, the UAE has a total of 41 investment projects in Vietnam with a total capital of 71.6 million USD. Vietnam currently has about 3,000 workers in the UAE.

Qatar pursues a balanced foreign policy, promoting mediation and reconciliation efforts to enhance its role and position in the region and the world. Cooperation between Vietnam and Qatar has developed positively. The two sides maintain delegation exchanges at all levels, coordinate and support each other at international forums. With strong energy and financial potential, Qatar is a potential economic and investment partner of Vietnam. Trade turnover between the two countries in 2023 reached 497.2 million USD, an increase of 32% compared to 2022.

Saudi Arabia is the largest economy in the Gulf region, has the second largest oil reserves in the world, and is striving to become a leading financial, commercial, and tourism center in the region. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has promoted its foreign policy towards playing the role of mediator in major conflicts in the region; diversifying relations, and strengthening its Eastward policy.

The Prime Minister's working trip is of great significance in consolidating political trust and elevating Vietnam's relations with the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, contributing to opening a new phase of cooperation between Vietnam and the three countries, especially creating a breakthrough in attracting investment from these countries to Vietnam.

Vietnam-Saudi Arabia relations are developing with many substantive results. The two countries actively promote delegation exchanges at all levels, coordinate and support each other at international forums. Saudi Arabia is Vietnam's third largest trading partner in the Middle East-North Africa region, with bilateral trade turnover reaching 2.68 billion USD in 2023. Major Saudi Arabian economic groups are interested in Vietnam. Currently, there are about 4,000 Vietnamese people working in Saudi Arabia.

The official visit of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to the UAE and the State of Qatar, attending the 8th Future Investment Initiative Conference and working visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to implement the foreign policy of the 13th National Party Congress, the Project on developing relations between Vietnam and Middle Eastern and African countries for the period 2016-2025; affirming Vietnam's consistent policy of always attaching importance to friendly relations and cooperation with friendly countries in the Middle East.

The Prime Minister's working trip is of great significance in consolidating political trust, enhancing Vietnam's relations with the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, contributing to opening a new phase of cooperation between Vietnam and the three countries, especially creating a breakthrough in attracting investment from these countries to Vietnam; promoting cooperation in new fields, especially innovation, digital transformation, green transformation, energy transformation, cooperation in developing Vietnam's Halal industry, opening the door for Vietnamese goods and services to access Gulf markets.

Wishing Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to the UAE and Qatar and his working visit to Saudi Arabia a great success, contributing to increasing understanding, trust and creating new momentum, further deepening the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and other countries.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/tao-dong-luc-moi-thuc-day-hop-tac-giua-viet-nam-voi-uae-qatar-va-saudi-arabia-post838857.html