Promoting the role of a bridge, actively promoting cooperation between Vietnam and Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh with three Ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar (Photo: TRAN HAI).

Also attending were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son; Ministers, leaders of central ministries and branches and leaders of several large corporations.

At the reception, on the occasion of the New Year 2025 and the UAE National Day and Qatar National Day, through the Ambassadors, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent his warm congratulations to the Royal Family, Government and people of the three countries; believing that the countries will continue to gain even greater new achievements in building and developing a beautiful, prosperous and happy country. The Prime Minister highly appreciated the support and cooperation of the Ambassadors and colleagues at the Embassies of Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar in Hanoi in contributing to the success and good results of the Prime Minister's recent visits to the three countries, contributing to creating new momentum and breakthroughs in the bilateral relations between Vietnam and the three countries.

Noting that in just the past two years, the Prime Minister has visited the UAE and Saudi Arabia twice and as the head of the Vietnamese Government visited Qatar after 15 years, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his deep emotion at the warm feelings and hospitality that the leaders and people of the three countries have shown to him, the high-ranking delegation and the people of Vietnam.

Expressing his deep impression of the miraculous development and great achievements that you have achieved, creating motivation and inspiration for Vietnam and countries around the world, especially the intelligence and vision, the Prime Minister said that the recent visits to the three countries conveyed a strong message about Vietnam's determination to promote cooperation with countries in an increasingly practical, effective and in-depth manner for the common benefit and to meet the needs of each country.

Reception scene (Photo: TRAN HAI).

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that immediately after the visit, the Prime Minister directed Vietnamese agencies to develop a plan and immediately implement the results of the visit in the spirit of "what is said is done; what is committed is done; what is done is done; what is done is done with results; work is implemented with focus and key points". In particular, the Prime Minister sent a letter to the leaders of Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia informing that the Prime Minister had assigned the Minister of Planning and Investment to be the focal point of the Vietnamese side to deploy and concretize the contents of cooperation between the Government of Vietnam and the three countries; assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment to preside over, synthesize and will soon send to the parties the List of priority investment attraction projects, in the immediate future the two sides need to establish a joint working group to implement this; assigned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to preside over and promote the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially high-level ones, and at the same time negotiate and sign the Visa Exemption Agreement with the three countries; assigned the Ministry of Industry and Trade to study the possibility and promote FTA/CEPA negotiations with Saudi Arabia and Qatar; The ministries, branches and localities are ready to cooperate with you.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the reception (Photo: TRAN HAI).

Informing about the efforts of the Vietnamese people to enter an era of prosperity, civilization and prosperity, in which the Middle Eastern countries are one of the focuses of Vietnam's foreign affairs, the Prime Minister hopes to share the vision and aspirations of the Middle Eastern countries in national development and learn from each other, cooperate for mutual benefit to realize national goals and strategies.

Ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar in Vietnam (Photo: TRAN HAI)

To further strengthen the bilateral relations between Vietnam and the three countries, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked the Ambassadors to closely coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant ministries and branches of Vietnam to actively promote the implementation of the commitments and goals set out during the visit.

Emphasizing “valuing time, intelligence, determination and decisiveness” and “looking far and wide, thinking deeply and doing big”, the Prime Minister suggested promoting the early implementation of the goal of upgrading Vietnam’s relations with Qatar and Saudi Arabia to Comprehensive Partnership; promoting visits by high-ranking leaders of the countries to Vietnam.

The Prime Minister proposed to soon coordinate and study the establishment of a Joint Working Group to promote the realization of the high-level agreement on creating breakthroughs in economics, trade and investment by promoting market opening for goods of both sides' strengths, including agricultural and aquatic products, Halal products; increase two-way investment in areas of interest and benefit to both sides, including agriculture, energy, oil and gas, digital transformation, green transformation, etc., especially helping Vietnam build an international financial center in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. Along with that, promote cooperation in the fields of defense, security, labor, enhance cooperation in tourism, culture, education, etc.; continue to closely coordinate and support each other on regional and world issues at international forums, especially at the United Nations.

Leaders of Vietnam's central ministries and branches at the reception (Photo: TRAN HAI).

Stating that Vietnam is ready to act as a bridge to support and promote cooperation between Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia with ASEAN and Southeast Asian countries, the Prime Minister asked the countries to promote Vietnam's cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC); believing that the Ambassadors and Embassies of the countries will continue to promote their role as bridges and actively contribute to strengthening and further promoting the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar.

Highly agreeing with the Prime Minister's opinion, the Ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar said that the countries highly appreciated the significance and results of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's recent visit to the three countries and are urgently implementing the agreements reached during the visit. In particular, closely coordinate with ministries, branches and agencies of Vietnam to promote the establishment of a Joint Ministerial Committee with Vietnam to implement cooperation contents; make a list of tasks, programs, projects and make specific plans for implementation; promote preparations for upcoming high-level visits.

Along with that, right after the Prime Minister's visit, many foreign enterprises came to Vietnam to explore investment opportunities and cooperation.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh introduces Vietnamese culture to the Ambassadors (Photo: TRAN HAI)

The Ambassadors affirmed that Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar attach great importance to cooperation with Vietnam, and at the same time, use this opportunity to expand and bridge cooperation between ASEAN and GCC. Believing that the current cooperation activities between Vietnam and the countries are taking place very actively, the Ambassadors believe that in the coming time, the relationship between Vietnam and the three countries will be promoted more strongly and substantially, and soon achieve all the goals set by both sides as the Prime Minister's opinion.

Source: Nhan Dan Newspaper