Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife, along with a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, paid an official visit to the UAE and the State of Qatar, attended the 8th Future Investment Initiative Conference, and paid a working visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from October 27 to November 1.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's working trip took place at the end of 2024 - the year of accelerating the implementation of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress; following the very vibrant diplomatic activities, achieving many important and historic achievements in recent times. Notably, all three countries are economic and energy powers in the Middle East with stable socio-politics and important roles and influences in the region.
According to VNA, major newspapers in the Middle East region all highlighted the significance of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit, saying that the results achieved will have a positive impact on relations between Vietnam and Middle Eastern countries in the coming time.
Khaleej Times - the oldest English-language daily newspaper in the UAE, quoted the statement of UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum affirming: "Vietnam is one of the fastest growing economies in Asia and we are their largest regional trade partner".
UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum made the statement as the two countries signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) - Vietnam's first free trade agreement with an Arab country.
Khaleej Times assessed that CEPA will help increase the access of UAE service providers in various fields in the Vietnamese market, including business and transportation, engineering, financial services, healthcare and social services, travel and transportation.
In another article, titled “Vietnam - Asia's bright star”, Khaleej Times commented: “Vietnam has developed strongly and become a key factor in Southeast Asia, with a constantly developing social culture, improved material and spiritual life, and stable politics and society. In recent years, Vietnam's prestige and position in the international arena have been increasingly enhanced".
Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabian state news agency (SPA) reported on the signing of a cooperation framework agreement between the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN) and the Saudi Aramco Oil and Gas Group, on the sidelines of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit. SPA stressed that this agreement will pave the way for potential cooperation in the fields of storage, supply and trading of energy and petrochemical products.
Qatar News Agency (QNA) published an article titled “Qatar and Vietnam: Good friendship and broad prospects for trade and investment partnership”, emphasizing the strong relationship between the two countries, reinforced by common interests, towards broader visions for the benefit of both sides. These relations are based on mutual respect, enhanced by high-level visits and agreements signed between the two sides in many fields.
QNA reiterated that in recent times, the two countries have regularly held exchanges, consultations and conducted high-level visits to each other to strengthen bilateral relations and promote coordination in international forums.
Qatar's state news agency emphasized that the visit of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Government is part of efforts to promote the relationship towards a new stage, with a broader vision.
