Vietnam - Kuwait relations face a moment of strong change

During his official State visit to Kuwait, on the morning of November 18, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered a policy speech at the Kuwait Diplomatic Academy.

The Diplomatic Academy of Kuwait is a leading prestigious research and educational institution, converging the intelligence, mettle and strategic vision of Kuwait; one of Kuwait’s leading training and research institutions in the field of foreign affairs, international relations and modern diplomacy. The Academy is also a venue for international conferences, regional forums and academic exchange programs with the participation of diplomats, scholars and experts from many countries.

In his speech, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh respectfully thanked the King, Crown Prince, Government and people of Kuwait for their warm, friendly and thoughtful welcome to the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation. This is the first visit by a high-ranking Vietnamese leader to Kuwait in 16 years, on the occasion of the two countries celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (January 10, 1976 - January 10, 2026).

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivers a policy speech at the Kuwait Diplomatic Academy.

PHOTO: VNA

According to the Prime Minister, each country has its own development path, but Vietnam and Kuwait share a common vision: only through sincere, equal cooperation, mutual respect in the spirit of listening, understanding, believing, acting, developing together; complying with the UN Charter and international law, together creating a world of peace, stability and sustainable development. The Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam attaches great importance to and wishes to promote extensive and comprehensive cooperation with the Gulf region in particular, the Middle East in general, especially with the State of Kuwait. On the other hand, the Vietnam - Kuwait economic cooperation is not yet commensurate with the potential, political - diplomatic relations and is still slow compared to development requirements. The two countries need to overcome difficulties and challenges to enter a new stage of development cooperation with a new mindset, faster, stronger, more effective.

The Prime Minister said that during this visit, he had very sincere, emotional, open and profound meetings with the King and Crown Prince and a very successful meeting with the Prime Minister of Kuwait; determining a comprehensive, inclusive and more breakthrough bilateral relationship in all fields. "We are very moved by the sincere, warm, heart-to-heart feelings and sharing of the King of Kuwait. He affirmed that the two countries are always trustworthy and sincere companions of each other; Kuwait always considers Vietnam a good friend; Vietnam's interests are also Kuwait's interests; cares for the Vietnamese people as well as the Kuwaiti people. I also affirmed to the King that Kuwait always has a sincere, trustworthy and strongly developing friend, Vietnam, and Vietnam is always by Kuwait's side and develops together," the Prime Minister shared.

On the morning of November 18, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh worked with a number of ministers, leaders of investment funds, and leading economic groups of Kuwait to promote the realization of the framework of the Vietnam - Kuwait Strategic Partnership in various fields. Earlier, on the evening of November 17 (local time), the Prime Minister visited former Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who has nurtured and contributed to the strong development of Vietnam - Kuwait relations over the past decades.

On the afternoon of November 18, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife, along with a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, left Kuwait for an official visit to Algeria at the invitation of Prime Minister of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, Sifi Ghrieb.

The two sides agreed to upgrade their relationship to a Strategic Partnership and had very effective and substantive exchanges; and agreed on 9 key areas of cooperation in the coming time. Accordingly, enhancing political trust between the two countries, actively exchanging high-level delegations. Promoting cooperation to protect the legitimate and legal interests of each country, cooperation in defense, security, especially non-traditional security, cyber security (implementing the Hanoi Convention on combating cybercrime).

Along with that, the two countries will promote cooperation in science and technology, innovation and digital transformation in various fields, promote the pillar of cooperation in energy, expand oil and gas cooperation, provide services and high-quality human resources. The two sides agreed to create a breakthrough in investment relations, accordingly, Kuwait will increase investment, especially in the International Financial Center in Vietnam; strongly promote bilateral trade, strive to increase bilateral trade turnover to more than 12 - 15 billion USD by 2030; soon start negotiations on the Vietnam - Kuwait Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA); at the same time, promote negotiations and signing of the FTA between Vietnam and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), soon negotiate the Agreement on ensuring food security and projects to support the development of the Halal ecosystem in Vietnam...

The Prime Minister emphasized that over nearly five decades of companionship, although the world has undergone many changes, Vietnam and Kuwait have always consistently "persistently accompanied each other, closely connected, deeply trusted, taken practical actions, and looked towards the future", all for the benefit of the people of the two countries.

The head of the Vietnamese Government affirmed that the Vietnam-Kuwait relationship is currently facing a period of strong transformation, 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-Kuwait will have more favorable conditions to support each other in development, contributing to peace, stability and sustainable development of the region and the world.

"We believe that the Vietnam - Kuwait relationship will not stop at what we have, not stop at diplomatic documents, but will become a journey of trust, connection and action, of heart-to-heart connection - starting with the connection from the two States, the two Governments, localities, from educational and training institutions, research institutes, from businesses, investors to each citizen of the two countries," Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/quan-he-viet-nam-kuwait-dung-truoc-thoi-khac-chuyen-minh-manh-me-185251118230541491.htm