Bringing Vietnam-Kuwait relations to a new, more comprehensive and sustainable development chapter

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Kuwait is of great significance, not only for the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Kuwait in particular but also affirms Vietnam's foreign policy towards the region in general.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh , his wife and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation will pay an official visit to Kuwait from November 16 to 18. (Photo: VGP)

At the invitation of the Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al Sabah, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh, his wife and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation will pay an official visit to Kuwait from November 16 to 18. On this occasion, Vietnamese Ambassador to Kuwait Nguyen Duc Thang shared with Nhan Dan Newspaper reporters the significance of this visit as well as the prospects of the Vietnam-Kuwait bilateral relationship.

Bringing Vietnam-Kuwait relations to new heights

According to Ambassador Nguyen Duc Thang, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Kuwait is of great significance, not only for the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Kuwait in particular but also affirms Vietnam's foreign policy towards the region in general.

This foreign affairs activity is a continuation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to the 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, Vietnam continues to strengthen friendly relations, enhance political trust, expand markets, and explore areas with great potential for cooperation with Kuwait.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Kuwait is of great significance, not only for the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Kuwait in particular but also affirms Vietnam's foreign policy towards the region in general.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Kuwait Nguyen Duc Thang

Ambassador Nguyen Duc Thang emphasized that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Kuwait is the first visit to Kuwait by a senior Vietnamese leader in 16 years, taking place right at the time when the two countries are preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations in January 2026.

According to Ambassador Nguyen Duc Thang, this is the right time for the two countries to consolidate and strengthen bilateral relations, bringing this relationship to a new level, making practical contributions to the development goals of both countries - with Vietnam aiming to become a developing country with modern industry and among the top 30 economies in the world by 2030, striving to become a developed, high-income, prosperous and happy country by 2045; with 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 visited Kuwait in the context that the country is assuming the role of Chair of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Recently, Kuwait has adjusted its policies, paying more attention to Asian countries, including the ASEAN group. Kuwait 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 its full potential and position, Vietnam can work with Kuwait to act as a bridge to promote inter-regional cooperation between ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council. 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 Gulf Cooperation Council in 2025.

Sharing about the activities within the framework of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Kuwait, Ambassador Nguyen Duc Thang said that within the framework of 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, official talks with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and meetings with a number of Ministers and leaders of key economic groups. The two sides will review the developments achieved 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.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Kuwait Nguyen Duc Thang.

“The highlight of the visit to Kuwait is 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 the foreign affairs sector of Kuwait to be worthy of the Arab region and the world. Through his speech, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will convey strong messages about Vietnam’s steady progress in socio-economic development, while highlighting Vietnam’s guidelines, policies and priorities in promoting multifaceted cooperation with the Middle East region and with Kuwait in particular in a long-term strategic vision,” Ambassador Nguyen Duc Thang emphasized.

Investment and trade are highlights in the current picture of Vietnam-Kuwait relations.

Sharing about the potential for cooperation between Vietnam and Kuwait, Ambassador Nguyen Duc Thang said that in the Arab Gulf region, Kuwait is strategically located, a link connecting global energy transport routes. According to statistics, Kuwait's oil reserves are currently at 101.5 billion barrels, the 6th largest in the world and its daily oil production is the 10th largest in the world.

Recently, Kuwait has been discovering more offshore oil and gas fields, opening up great prospects for maintaining the development of the key economic sector, maintaining its position as the world's leading oil exporting country. Notably, the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) is managing the 4th largest sovereign fund in the world with total capital of about 1,065 billion USD (only behind Norway, China and UAE), playing an important role in allocating investment abroad.

From that strength, investment and trade are the highlights in the current picture of bilateral relations. Kuwait is the Middle Eastern country with the largest total investment capital in Vietnam up to now, most notably the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Plant project with Kuwait's capital contribution of up to 3.5 billion USD.

In terms of trade, the total bilateral turnover will reach 7.3 billion USD in 2024, which is also the highest level of Vietnam's trade with a country in the Middle East (in the first 9 months of 2025, the trade turnover between the two countries will reach over 5 billion USD). Importing a large amount of oil from Kuwait contributes to ensuring a stable supply for the production activities of Nghi Son factory, which supplies over 35% of the gasoline consumed in Vietnam's domestic market. In addition, our export items to the Kuwait market have also become increasingly diverse and have higher value in recent times, including agricultural and aquatic products, fruits, wooden furniture, machinery and equipment, electronic products, etc.

In addition, the two countries also maintain other areas of cooperation. The Kuwait Fund 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, there are currently a number of cooperation agreements between the two countries, such as Ho Chi Minh City and Ahmadi province, Thanh Hoa province and Farwaniya province, etc., thereby promoting delegation exchange activities, trade promotion and people-to-people exchanges.

In the field of education and training, the Kuwaiti government has created favorable conditions to grant scholarships for many Vietnamese students to study Arabic at Kuwait University every year since 2013.

According to Ambassador Nguyen Duc Thang, in addition to the above-mentioned traditional areas of cooperation, Vietnam and Kuwait still have a lot of room to develop potential areas. Specifically, cooperation in oil and gas and energy in general between the two countries can develop in new directions. Vietnam is fully qualified to become the largest oil storage and distribution center in Southeast Asia.

At the same time, 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. The two countries can jointly research and invest in solar power, wind power and green hydrogen projects - taking advantage of Kuwait's financial strength and Vietnam's production and technical capacity.

Ambassador Nguyen Duc Thang and Minister in charge of the Office of the King of Kuwait and Head of the Office of the Crown Prince of Kuwait. (Photo: Embassy of Vietnam in Kuwait)

Along with that, with a dynamic economy and attractive investment environment, Vietnam hopes to be a destination that Kuwaiti investment funds are more interested in. In the coming time, the two countries can promote cooperation in large projects, helping to create new financial centers in the region. Vietnam can become a gateway for Kuwait to expand investment to Southeast Asia, while Kuwait plays the role of a strategic partner to help Vietnam access the Middle East and neighboring markets.

As one of the world's leading exporters of agricultural and aquatic products, Vietnam has the ability to ensure food security, providing a rich, stable, long-term source of Halal-standard products to the Kuwaiti market. Cooperation in this field not only helps Kuwait diversify its food supply but also creates conditions for Vietnam to develop a Halal agricultural value chain, expanding its market to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the entire Middle East region.

Vietnam is increasingly becoming a favorite destination for international tourists, including Kuwaitis who consider tourism an essential part of life. Due to its high economic conditions, Kuwait's tourism spending has been at 12-13 billion USD/year in recent years. Many Kuwaiti families and businessmen have chosen Vietnam to relax, explore nature, cuisine and East Asian culture. The number of international tourists to Vietnam in 2025 could exceed 22 million, an increase of 20% over the same period last year, including the contribution of tourists from Muslim countries. In the coming time, the two countries can promote the opening of direct flights and organize more tourism promotion programs.

Vietnam and Kuwait have always maintained a tradition of mutual support and assistance at international forums, including important mechanisms and committees at the United Nations of which both countries are members. In the context of a volatile world, the coordination between Vietnam and Kuwait in promoting multilateralism, peace, sustainable development and active participation in humanitarian missions will contribute to enhancing the role of both countries in the international arena. More importantly, both countries are qualified and ready to become a bridge to promote cooperation between ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council on both political and economic levels, opening up a promising process of linking the two regions in the future.

Continuing to foster Vietnam-Kuwait relations, creating momentum for a new phase of cooperation development

According to Ambassador Nguyen Duc Thang, in addition to the achievements in various fields after half a century of establishing diplomatic relations, the Vietnam-Kuwait friendship needs to be further nurtured and requires efforts from both sides.

“From the results of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to Kuwait in November 2025 and at the time when the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in January 2026, the Vietnam-Kuwait relationship has been established on a new, higher, deeper and broader framework that requires efforts from both sides. Accordingly, Vietnam needs to prioritize the implementation of a number of practical and effective measures to create momentum for a new stage of cooperation development between the two countries,” Ambassador Nguyen Duc Thang emphasized.

Ambassador Nguyen Duc Thang worked with Mr. Salem Alhai - Director General of the Kuwaiti Public Authority for Agriculture and Fisheries to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the agricultural sector. (Photo: Embassy of Vietnam in Kuwait)

First of all, it is necessary to immediately implement the results and commitments achieved during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to Kuwait in November 2025. Accordingly, it will be necessary to quickly develop action plans for each area of ​​cooperation with a long-term, strategic vision to exploit the potential and strengths of each country. Specifically, it is necessary to prioritize promoting cooperation with Kuwait in the fields of oil and gas and energy, investment, food security, digital transformation, civil infrastructure construction and tourism.

At the same time, Vietnam needs to demonstrate a more proactive and positive role in expanding cooperation with Kuwait, while building a comprehensive approach to the Gulf Cooperation Council region - both general and synchronous, and specific to each country. If at the regional level, Vietnam needs to implement a synchronous policy for the entire Gulf Cooperation Council through investment promotion, free trade agreements, Halal standards, carbon credits and digital economy, then with Kuwait in particular, we need to flexibly adjust according to the geographical characteristics, population size, financial investment methods, food security needs, infrastructure construction, tourism, etc. of this country to maximize the benefits of each side, affirming the position of a sustainable and trustworthy partner.

Along with that, Vietnam needs to fully exploit or upgrade existing cooperation mechanisms as well as practically implement signed bilateral cooperation agreements in many fields. Meetings of the Intergovernmental Committee on Economic, Trade and Scientific and Technical Cooperation, Political Consultations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs level, and delegation exchanges between ministries, branches and localities of the two countries need to be maintained more regularly and substantially. Through regular meetings, the two sides can review and evaluate the progress of work implementation and promptly resolve arising problems. In fact, Kuwait's traditional culture of valuing direct work and friendly relations is the first basis for moving towards a long-term cooperative relationship.

According to Ambassador Nguyen Duc Thang, in addition to the political commitment between the two countries, close and synchronous coordination at all levels is an important factor and will be the key for Vietnam and Kuwait to overcome difficulties and differences, take advantage of opportunities and potentials of each side, and bring the bilateral relationship to a new, more comprehensive and sustainable development chapter.

Khanh Lan

Source: https://nhandan.vn/dua-quan-he-viet-nam-kuwait-sang-mot-chuong-phat-trien-moi-toan-dien-va-ben-vung-hon-post923016.html