Striving to increase Vietnam - Kuwait bilateral turnover to 12-15 billion USD

VTV.vn - At talks with the Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to the friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Kuwait.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh holds talks with Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al Sabah. (Photo: VNA)

On November 17, within the framework of his official visit to the State of Kuwait, after a solemn welcoming ceremony held at Bayan Palace, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held talks with Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al Sabah.

The Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait warmly welcomed Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation on their official visit to Kuwait, considering this a historic event, creating a new impetus to promote the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries to a new stage of development.

Appreciating Vietnam's impressive development achievements in recent times, especially maintaining high growth, macroeconomic stability, inflation control and deep international integration, the Kuwaiti Prime Minister expressed his belief that with its increasingly enhanced position in the international arena, Vietnam will continue to play an active role in promoting peace, cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his pleasure to return to visit Kuwait and thanked the Government and people of Kuwait for the warm, respectful and sincere welcome.

Congratulating Kuwait on its many important achievements in developing and transforming its economic model towards modernity and sustainability, the Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to the friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Kuwait, one of the first countries in the Middle East to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam since 1976.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh respectfully conveyed the regards and invitations of General Secretary To Lam, President Luong Cuong, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to the King of Kuwait and Kuwaiti leaders to visit Vietnam.

After nearly 50 years of cooperation, the two leaders assessed that the 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 region.

Facing a new stage of development, with new potential and mindset, in an atmosphere of sincerity, trust and mutual understanding, the two Prime Ministers agreed to upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership.

The two sides agreed to increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially at high levels, promote the operation of existing cooperation mechanisms, and establish new specialized working groups such as the Joint Working Group on Digital Transformation to promote cooperation in all fields.

The two Prime Ministers identified economic, trade and investment cooperation as an important pillar of the bilateral relationship, agreeing to strive to increase bilateral trade turnover to over 12-15 billion USD by 2030. Vietnam asked Kuwait to promote early negotiations and signing of the Vietnam-GCC FTA and launch negotiations on the Vietnam-Kuwait Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

The two sides affirmed that they will closely coordinate 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 it a symbol of the strategic cooperation between the two countries, contributing significantly to ensuring Vietnam's energy security. In addition, 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.

The Prime Minister of Kuwait emphasized the importance of the multifaceted bilateral relationship with Vietnam. Agreeing that there is still much room and potential for promotion between the two sides, especially on the basis of the recently upgraded Strategic Partnership framework, the Prime Minister of Kuwait welcomed investment opportunities in Vietnam, committed to promoting the Kuwait Public Investment Fund and Kuwaiti investors to implement large, strategic projects in Vietnam, and directed the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development to coordinate with Vietnam to simplify ODA procedures.

Emphasizing the potential for food security cooperation between the two sides, the Kuwaiti Prime Minister said he would promote research and investment in building an agricultural production factory in Vietnam for export to the Kuwaiti market and other countries in the region.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh holds talks with Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al Sabah. (Photo: VNA)

The Kuwaiti Prime Minister also proposed that the two sides soon sign an air transport agreement and study opening a direct flight route between the two countries.

Emphasizing the motto of "respecting time, respecting intelligence, innovating to break through, creating to go far", Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam welcomes and creates all favorable conditions for Kuwaiti investment funds and enterprises, including requesting the Kuwait Investment Authority to invest in the International Financial Center in Vietnam.

The Prime Minister also proposed negotiating a long-term Framework Agreement on strategic commodities, including rice, to ensure food security for Kuwait and implementing projects to support the development of the Halal ecosystem in Vietnam.

The Prime Minister proposed that Kuwait cooperate in building a cold storage facility for transiting Vietnamese goods in Kuwait, from which they can export to countries in the Middle East.

The two sides also agreed to promote labor cooperation, increase the reception of skilled Vietnamese workers to work in Kuwait, and coordinate in managing and protecting the legitimate rights of workers. The two Prime Ministers assigned relevant agencies to study, negotiate and soon sign a Human Resources Cooperation Agreement.

Besides economic cooperation, the two sides agreed to expand cooperation in emerging fields such as science and technology, digital transformation, innovation, cyber security, renewable energy, education and training, tourism and people-to-people exchange.

The two Prime Ministers agreed to make educational and cultural cooperation a sustainable foundation for long-term friendship between the two peoples.

The Kuwaiti Prime Minister pledged to expand scholarships for Vietnamese students to study new fields and majors such as STEM, basic sciences, etc., and agreed to coordinate in organizing Vietnamese Cultural Days in Kuwait and Kuwaiti Cultural Days in Vietnam to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations; and to study the possibility of visa exemption for citizens of the two countries.

Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, the two Prime Ministers agreed to cooperate closely at regional and international multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, ASEAN, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The two sides also shared a common vision on resolving disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter, and called on relevant parties to exercise restraint, avoid escalating tensions, ensure security and safety for civilians and civil infrastructure, and facilitate humanitarian activities.

As one of the largest humanitarian aid donors to the Gaza Strip and Syria, Kuwait welcomes Vietnam's cooperation in implementing reconstruction activities in the Middle East region.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al Sabah witnessed the signing of a protocol amending the visa exemption agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders with Kuwait and a memorandum of understanding between the Diplomatic Academy and the Saud Al-Nasswe Al-Sabah Institute for Foreign Affairs of Kuwait. (Photo: VNA)

The two leaders also agreed to promote cooperation in the fields of security and defense, exchange of experiences and respond to non-traditional security challenges.

Immediately after the talks, the two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of a Joint Statement on upgrading bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership and a number of cooperation documents between ministries, branches and agencies of the two countries.

Source: https://vtv.vn/phan-dau-nang-kim-ngach-song-phuong-viet-nam-kuwait-len-12-15-ty-usd-100251117193652533.htm