Prime Minister proposes early negotiation of Vietnam-Saudi Arabia free trade agreement

Báo Tài nguyên Môi trườngBáo Tài nguyên Môi trường30/10/2024

On the morning of October 30, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Saudi Arabian Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bander Alkhorayf, Chairman of the Saudi Arabian branch of the Vietnam - Saudi Arabia Intergovernmental Committee.


Thủ tướng đề nghị sớm đàm phán hiệp định thương mại tự do Việt Nam-Saudi Arabia- Ảnh 1.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated the positive developments in the relationship between the two countries over the past 25 years (1999-2024), especially in the economic field - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Saudi Arabia is currently Vietnam's leading trading partner in the Middle East (bilateral trade turnover in 2023 reached nearly 2.7 billion USD, of which Vietnam exported about 1.1 billion USD, an increase of 60%).

At the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh congratulated Saudi Arabia on its great achievements in recent times, especially in diversifying the economy, developing non-oil economic sectors, promoting the application of science and technology, expanding international economic relations, etc.; he believed that Saudi Arabia's "Vision 2030" strategy would become a reality, as well as the Future Investment Initiative Conference (FII8) would be a great success, affirming Saudi Arabia's prestige.

The Prime Minister highly appreciated the positive developments in the relationship between the two countries over the past 25 years (1999-2024), especially in the economic field. However, economic, trade and investment relations have not been commensurate with the good political relations.

Thủ tướng đề nghị sớm đàm phán hiệp định thương mại tự do Việt Nam-Saudi Arabia- Ảnh 2.
The Prime Minister suggested that the two sides negotiate a free trade agreement, an investment protection agreement, an agreement on labor, an agreement on cultural cooperation, education and training, to promote two-way trade to 5-10 billion USD in the coming years, and to cooperate in more investment and more effectively... - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The Prime Minister said that during the talks with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed Bin Salman, the two sides agreed that the leaders of the two countries share innovative thinking, strategic and long-term vision, and the same desire to develop the country quickly and sustainably. They both focus on promoting "time and intelligence", agreeing to elevate the bilateral relationship and upgrade cooperation mechanisms in the coming time.

During the talks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh assigned the ministers participating in the delegation to immediately promote exchanges with Saudi Arabian partners to concretize the results of the discussions between the two Prime Ministers.

In the coming time, the Prime Minister suggested that the two sides continue to concretize and realize the above-mentioned goals; negotiate free trade agreements, investment protection agreements, labor agreements to send Vietnamese workers to Saudi Arabia, agreements on cultural cooperation, education and training, connect the two economies more strongly, promote two-way trade to 5-10 billion USD in the coming years, cooperate in investment more effectively; connect culture and people-to-people exchanges more actively.

Thủ tướng đề nghị sớm đàm phán hiệp định thương mại tự do Việt Nam-Saudi Arabia- Ảnh 3.
Minister Bander Alkhorayf said that he will work with agencies from both sides to promote and expand economic cooperation commensurate with the political and diplomatic relations between the two countries, and in particular, wants to discuss and strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in the Halal field - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Minister Bander Alkhorayf expressed his admiration for Vietnam's socio-economic development achievements in recent years and expressed his delight at the vision and orientation of bilateral relations of senior leaders.

Affirming that the Prime Minister's sharing was a strong inspiration, the Minister said that he would work with agencies on both sides to promote and expand economic cooperation commensurate with the political and diplomatic relations between the two countries, especially in the fields of automobiles, high technology, equipment, food processing, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, minerals and other industries. In particular, he wanted to discuss and promote cooperation with Vietnam in the field of Halal.

Informing that Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed Bin Salman is looking forward to his visit to Vietnam and that Saudi Arabia wants to elevate relations with Vietnam, the Minister hopes that Vietnam will attend the Future Mining Forum organized by Saudi Arabia in early 2025.

The Prime Minister assigned the Minister of Industry and Trade to attend this event and welcomed Minister Bander Alkhorayf to visit Vietnam soon to promote cooperation between businesses of the two countries, and cooperate in developing industries, especially in mining and oil and gas, in which Vietnam can supply minerals and construction materials to Saudi Arabia.



Source: https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/thu-tuong-de-nghi-som-dam-phan-hiep-dinh-thuong-mai-tu-do-viet-nam-saudi-arabia-382426.html

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