According to the Government Newspaper, within the framework of his official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on October 28, in Abu Dhabi, after the official welcoming ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a small meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. On this occasion, the two leaders agreed to upgrade bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Partnership.
At the meeting, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to the UAE, expressing his belief that the visit will strongly promote, create momentum, and open a new phase of cooperation between the two countries in the coming time.
The UAE President praised Vietnam's glorious history and development, emphasizing that Vietnam and the UAE have many things to learn from each other and affirmed that Vietnam is an important partner of the UAE in Asia and cooperation with Vietnam is one of the UAE's main concerns.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his admiration for the achievements of the UAE, turning the UAE into a leading economic, financial and technological center in the region, a "miracle in the desert" in the Middle East.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed their delight at the remarkable developments in bilateral relations, with three points being increasingly consolidated and enhanced political trust and mutual understanding; economic cooperation becoming more substantive; and cooperation and mutual support at multilateral forums becoming increasingly closer and more effective.
On that basis, to meet the aspirations of the leaders and people of the two countries as well as the desire to contribute to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world, the two sides agreed to upgrade their relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership. Thereby, the UAE becomes Vietnam's first Comprehensive Partner in the Middle East, demonstrating the determination and expectations of the leaders of the two countries in bringing the bilateral cooperation to a new level, more sustainable, substantive and effective.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan agreed on six priority areas of cooperation, including: Urgently developing action programs to be implemented immediately within the framework of the Comprehensive Partnership; promoting cooperation in innovation, green transformation, digital transformation, and circular economy; creating breakthroughs in bilateral economic, trade, and investment cooperation; cooperating to develop the Halal industry and opening the market for Vietnamese Halal products; enhancing cooperation in labor, culture, tourism, sports, and people-to-people exchange; closely coordinating, consulting, and supporting each other on regional and global issues at multilateral forums. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also asked UAE authorities to create favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community living and working in the UAE.
UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan affirmed that he will actively direct relevant UAE agencies to coordinate with the Vietnamese side to implement the results of the visit. The UAE President expressed his delight at the increasing number of Vietnamese workers in the UAE and affirmed that he will create conditions for Vietnamese people to settle down in the UAE and support the establishment of the Vietnam Cultural Center in the UAE. The President also affirmed that he will directly direct the implementation of a number of specific projects such as supporting a youth football academy in Vietnam and building a financial center in Ho Chi Minh City.
