Prime Minister's visit to Kuwait: Exploring areas with great potential for cooperation

(Chinhphu.vn) - Vietnamese Ambassador to Kuwait Nguyen Duc Thang said that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's upcoming visit to Kuwait will not only strengthen friendly relations, enhance political trust, expand the market, but also explore areas with great potential for cooperation between the two countries.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Kuwait Nguyen Duc Thang - Photo: Vietnamese Embassy in Kuwait

Speaking to the press, Ambassador Nguyen Duc Thang shared that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh 's visit has many important meanings, not only for the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Kuwait in particular, but also affirms Vietnam's policy of developing relations with the region in general.

This foreign affairs activity is a continuation of the Prime Minister's visit to three Gulf countries in 2024; demonstrating Vietnam's determination in implementing its foreign affairs strategy towards the Middle East region, promptly realizing Resolution 59-NQ/TW on international integration in the new situation. Through high-level foreign affairs activities, the two countries continue to strengthen friendly relations, enhance political trust, expand markets, and explore areas with great potential for cooperation with Kuwait.

This is the first visit to Kuwait by a senior Vietnamese leader in 16 years, taking place at a time when the two countries are preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in January 2026. It is absolutely possible to affirm that this is the right time for the two countries to consolidate and strengthen bilateral relations, bringing this relationship to a new height, making practical contributions to the development goals of both countries.

For Vietnam, the goal is to become a developing country with modern industry and be among the top 30 economies in the world by 2030, striving to become a developed, high-income, prosperous and happy country by 2045; for Kuwait, the "Vision 2035" is to make this country a leading financial and commercial center in the region and the world.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit took place in the context of Kuwait assuming the role of Chair of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The Ambassador said that recently, Kuwait has adjusted its policies, paying more attention to Asian countries, including the ASEAN group. Kuwait has proactively participated in signing the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in September 2023.

In the two recent GCC-ASEAN Summits (October 2023 and May 2025), Kuwait played an active role, participating in many important issues in cooperation between the blocs. With full potential and position, Vietnam can work with Kuwait to act as a bridge to promote inter-regional cooperation between ASEAN and the GCC. At the same time, Vietnam hopes that Kuwait will promote its role in promoting the launch of negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the GCC in 2025.

During the visit, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will have many important activities, including meetings with His Majesty Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, talks with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and receptions with a number of ministers and leaders of key economic groups.

The two sides will review the progress made in the friendship and cooperation over the past half century, as well as exchange and agree on directions, measures and determine a framework for deeper and broader cooperation in the coming time.

The highlight of the visit was Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's policy speech at the Kuwait Diplomatic Academy, a training and academic exchange institution with a rich tradition, meeting the requirements of developing human resources in Kuwait's foreign affairs sector to be worthy of the Arab region and the world.

Through his speech, the Prime Minister will convey strong messages about Vietnam's steady progress in socio-economic development, while highlighting Vietnam's policies and priorities in promoting multifaceted cooperation and ties with the Middle East region and Kuwait in particular within a long-term strategic vision.

Highlights in Vietnam - Kuwait relations

Referring to the achievements in bilateral relations in recent times, the Ambassador shared that oil and gas investment and trade are highlights in the current picture of relations between the two countries. The Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) is managing the 4th largest sovereign fund in the world with total capital of about 1,065 billion USD (after Norway, China and UAE), playing an important role in allocating investment abroad.

Up to now, Kuwait is the Middle Eastern country with the largest total investment capital in Vietnam, most notably the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Plant project with a capital contribution of up to 3.5 billion USD. The stable oil supply from Kuwait has helped Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Plant contribute up to 35% of the petroleum products consumed in the domestic market.

In addition, the two countries have also maintained other areas of cooperation with positive results. The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development has supported essential infrastructure projects in Vietnam for many years, with a total value of 182 million USD through 15 projects in many provinces and cities.

In the field of local cooperation, the two countries have signed a number of cooperation agreements such as those between Ho Chi Minh City and Ahmadi province, Thanh Hoa province and Farwaniya province, etc., thereby promoting delegation exchanges, trade promotion and people-to-people exchanges. In the field of education and training, the Kuwaiti government has created conditions for scholarships for many Vietnamese students to study Arabic at Kuwait University every year since 2013.

After 50 years of establishing diplomatic relations, Vietnam and Kuwait are currently witnessing wide-open opportunities to develop potential fields such as energy security, food security, investment in implementing projects on financial centers and technology infrastructure, tourism cooperation, etc.

In the context of the world's strong shift to renewable energy, Vietnam and Kuwait have many opportunities to cooperate in developing green and clean energy, meeting the international goals and commitments of each country.

On the other hand, Vietnam is confident that it is one of the world's leading exporters of agricultural and aquatic products, capable of providing a rich, stable, long-term source of Halal-standard products to the Kuwaiti market. The governments of both countries are also promoting digital transformation, considering database building and AI application as an important foundation for the upcoming development stage of each country.

Thuy Dung

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/chuyen-tham-cua-thu-tuong-toi-kuwait-khai-pha-cac-linh-vuc-con-nhieu-tiem-nang-hop-tac-102251112171306187.htm