Negotiations on the Vietnam-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement need to be completed as soon as possible.

Accordingly, receiving the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is on a working visit to Vietnam on June 14th, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed the UAE Foreign Minister's visit to Vietnam, highly appreciating the vibrant exchange of delegations between the two countries recently, especially the recent visit to the UAE by Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan (May 2023) which achieved many important results.

Vietnam and UAE need to finalize negotiations on the comprehensive economic partnership agreement soon (Figure 1). — Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh thanked the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE for the invitation to visit the UAE; and also conveyed the invitation from President Vo Van Thuong to the President of the UAE to visit Vietnam. The Prime Minister extended an invitation to the Prime Minister of the UAE to visit Vietnam soon to discuss concrete measures to further strengthen the solidarity, friendship, and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Prime Minister proposed that both sides actively coordinate and support each other in international and regional forums, especially within the framework of the United Nations; and coordinate the organization of cultural and sports exchange activities, including "Vietnam Culture Day in the UAE," contributing to enhancing mutual understanding between the people of the two countries.

Regarding economic cooperation, the Prime Minister affirmed that, given the enormous potential for economic and trade cooperation between the two sides, it is necessary to finalize negotiations on the Vietnam-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) as soon as possible; he requested the UAE's support for Vietnam in developing the Halal industry and services, investing in Halal product manufacturing, and establishing cooperation mechanisms for Halal certification in Vietnam, thereby contributing to increasing trade turnover between the two countries.

Vietnam and UAE need to finalize negotiations on the comprehensive economic partnership agreement soon (Figure 2). — Both sides agreed that the friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries have made positive progress in many areas such as politics and diplomacy, economy and trade, investment, tourism, and energy.

In the field of investment, the Prime Minister stated that Vietnam encourages UAE businesses and investment funds to invest and transfer technology in areas of mutual interest such as logistics, real estate, services, infrastructure, and innovation.

Highly appreciating the UAE's position as a financial center and its success in economic restructuring and scientific and technological development, the Prime Minister requested the UAE to share its experience and support Vietnam in building an international financial center, connecting innovation networks, energy transition, environmental protection, and natural resource management.

The Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam welcomes the UAE's hosting of the 28th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) and is ready to cooperate with the UAE to ensure the success of the Conference.

Vietnam needs to finalize negotiations on the comprehensive economic partnership agreement with the UAE as soon as possible (Figure 3). — The UAE Foreign Minister highly appreciated the contributions of Vietnamese workers to the development of the UAE and expressed his desire for both sides to strengthen cooperation to promote the sending of more skilled Vietnamese workers to the UAE in the future.

Speaking at the meeting, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan affirmed that UAE leaders always consider Vietnam an important partner in the Asia-Pacific region. He thanked Vietnam for its close cooperation and support for the UAE in international forums where both sides are members, and expressed his hope that Vietnam would actively participate and contribute to the success of the COP28 conference.

The UAE Foreign Minister affirmed that UAE investors and businesses highly appreciate the opportunities and investment and business environment in Vietnam, and wish to strengthen and elevate cooperation with Vietnam in trade and investment, especially in the field of renewable energy.

In particular, Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan affirmed that signing the CEPA is a top priority for the UAE in its cooperation with Vietnam to create a breakthrough in economic and investment cooperation, and suggested that the two sides coordinate closely to accelerate and soon complete negotiations on this important agreement.

Besides trade and investment, Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan proposed strengthening cooperation in many other important areas of mutual interest such as renewable energy, combating climate change, sustainable development, environmental protection, and people-to-people exchanges.

Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan affirmed that he would closely coordinate with Vietnam to implement cooperation proposals in the most substantive and effective way, especially in the areas and contents that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had commented on.

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