Accompanying and sharing common values ​​of peace and development vision

Located in the Middle East, possessing huge oil resources, a symbol of prosperity and wealth, Kuwait is the first country of the Gulf Cooperation Organization (GCC) to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam right after the country's unification.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and delegates at the Al-Zour Petrochemical Refinery Complex. (Photo: THANH GIANG)

Over nearly 50 years of companionship, Vietnam and Kuwait have always been consistent in “steadfast companionship, close connection, deep trust, practical actions, and looking towards the future”, all for the benefit of the people of the two countries. In that context, the official visit to Kuwait by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation is of great significance, opening a new chapter in the history of bilateral friendship and cooperation.

The Government and people of Kuwait welcomed Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife along with the high-ranking delegation of Vietnam with great respect, warmth and friendliness. This is the first official visit of a Vietnamese Prime Minister to Kuwait in 16 years since 2009. We were truly impressed when the Vietnamese and Kuwaiti flags were hung all along the road from the airport to the city center.

Over nearly 50 years of cooperation, the Vietnam-Kuwait bilateral relationship has been continuously expanded and strengthened, especially in trade, investment, energy, education, labor and development assistance, making Kuwait a leading trade partner, an important investment and development partner of Vietnam in the Middle East.

Vietnam and Kuwait have great prospects for cooperation to promote connectivity in the fields of finance, trade, investment, energy, green infrastructure, food security, ODA and Halal industry. Kuwait's role as GCC Chair in 2025 is very favorable for Vietnam to promote multifaceted cooperation with GCC member countries, and in return, Kuwait considers Vietnam a strategic gateway for GCC to expand cooperation with ASEAN. Kuwaiti leaders expressed their close ties with Vietnam to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, affirming that the Kuwaiti people always remember Vietnam's balanced stance and standing on the side of justice during Kuwait's difficult times.

Over nearly 50 years of cooperation, the Vietnam-Kuwait bilateral relationship has been continuously expanded and strengthened, especially in trade, investment, energy, education, labor and development assistance, making Kuwait a leading trade partner, an important investment and development partner of Vietnam in the Middle East.

This official visit also marked a historic turning point when Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al Sabah agreed to upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership ahead of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1976-2026). The two leaders identified strengthening economic, trade and investment cooperation as an important pillar of bilateral relations, and agreed to strive to increase bilateral trade turnover to more than 12-15 billion USD by 2030; requested Kuwait to promote early negotiations and signing of the Vietnam-GCC FTA, and consider negotiating the Vietnam-Kuwait Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

A key point is that the two Prime Ministers affirmed close coordination to improve efficiency and promote the expansion of the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Project in the spirit of “harmonious benefits and shared risks”, considering this a symbol of the strategic cooperation between the two countries. For its part, Vietnam is ready to provide oil and gas services and high-quality human resources for projects in Kuwait, expanding cooperation to a number of new projects, especially the construction of a petroleum storage and transit project in the Vietnam region.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed that Kuwait invest in the International Financial Center in Vietnam... and pointed out that the cooperation between the two countries is not yet commensurate with their potential and is still slow compared to development requirements. The two countries need to overcome difficulties and challenges to enter a new phase of development cooperation with a new mindset. In particular, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh always expressed to Kuwaiti leaders: Vietnam will never forget Kuwait's noble gesture of supporting 600,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine when Vietnam was facing the most difficulties during the pandemic.

The Prime Minister pointed out that each country has its own development path, but Vietnam and Kuwait share a common vision for national development. While Vietnam has two 100-year strategic development goals, including the goal of becoming a high-income developed country by 2045, Kuwait has the “Kuwait Vision 2035” with the goal of turning the country into a regional and global financial and trade center with a focus on economic diversification, social development and sustainable development; a roadmap to turn Kuwait into a dynamic, modern country...

Warmly welcoming Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to Kuwait, His Majesty the King of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah shared with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh his warm, sincere feelings “from heart to heart” about the beautiful country, rich nature and kind Vietnamese people; affirmed that the two countries have always been trustworthy and sincere companions; Kuwait always considers Vietnam a good friend; Vietnam’s interests are also Kuwait’s interests. For his part, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sincerely expressed to the King: Kuwait always has a sincere, trustworthy and strongly developing friend, Vietnam; always stands by and develops together with Kuwait.

During this official visit, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh did not forget his old friend of the country and people of Vietnam when he visited former Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at his private residence. The former Prime Minister of Kuwait considered Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh a great friend and brother of the country and people of Kuwait...

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh strongly affirmed to Kuwaiti friends: the history of Vietnam-Kuwait relations has proven that when two countries and two peoples share common values ​​of peace, independence and development, geographical distance or cultural differences are not barriers. On the contrary, they are the materials for us to enrich mutual understanding, broaden our vision, strengthen strategic trust and promote cooperation. The Prime Minister believes that the Vietnam-Kuwait relationship will not only stop at diplomatic documents, but will become a journey of trust, connection and action, of connecting hearts to hearts - starting with the connection from the two States, the two Governments, localities, from educational and training establishments, research institutes, from businesses, investors to each citizen of the two countries.

The relationship between the two countries is now facing a period of strong change, becoming a typical model of cooperation between Southeast Asia and the Gulf region, and at the same time a solid bridge of friendship between Asia and the Middle East. At the new height of the Strategic Partnership, Vietnam and Kuwait have more favorable conditions to support each other in developing, contributing to peace, stability and sustainable development of the region and the world.

HA THANH GIANG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/dong-hanh-chia-se-nhung-gia-tri-chung-ve-hoa-binh-tam-nhin-phat-trien-post924096.html