On June 2, at the Headquarters of the Party Central Committee for External Relations, Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee for External Relations Truong Quang Hoai Nam had a courtesy call with Omani Ambassador to Vietnam, Saleh Mohamed Ahmed Al Suqri.
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Oman (June 9, 1992-2022), Ambassador Saleh Mohamed Ahmed Al Sagri shared about the achievements as well as the important development prospects of the relationship between the two countries.
According to the diplomat, in the 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have made unremitting efforts to strengthen and develop bilateral relations in all fields and levels, mutual support at international forums, and the exchange of high-level official visits and meetings to promote trade between businesses of the two countries.
The two sides have signed about 10 agreements and three memorandums of understanding in various fields covering politics, economy, investment and trade. Some of the important agreements include the establishment of the Vietnam-Oman Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation, an agreement on the establishment of a joint business council, and an agreement to establish a political consultation group.
The two sides have also held many important meetings, of which, the most recent were the third session of the Vietnam-Oman Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation, which was held in Hanoi in March 2018 and chaired by the two Ministers of Industry and Trade, and the third political consultation meeting held in October 2019 in Muscat, chaired by two Deputy Ministers of the two countries.
These two meetings aim to support the development of relations between the two countries, towards increasing official state visits and unifying cooperation in the fields of economy and investment, food security and services, as well as cooperation in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, oil and gas.
“It can be seen that the agreements, memorandums of understanding, joint meetings and mutual visits are all within the framework of consolidating and strengthening the friendly relationship between the two countries. It is a continuous, dynamic process between the two parties. We hope that the relationship will continue to grow and both sides pay more direct visits in the near future”, said Ambassador Saleh Mohamed Ahmed Al Sagri.
The two countries have witnessed trade growth of 120% since the two sides established relations, while bilateral trade has reached about 200 million USD.
According to the ambassador, ailateral trade turnover could grow significantly if shipping lines and direct flights are opened between the two countries.
The diplomat assessed that Vietnam is a major rice exporter in the world while Oman has strengths in exporting liquefied petroleum gas and has high oil reserves, as well as developing renewable energy and seaports. Oman has many large-capacity seaports, but the two countries have not yet established a direct sea route connection.
“It is undeniable that Oman and Vietnam are both located in strategic locations. Oman links the Middle East and East Africa, while Vietnam has a prime location in Asia. Both countries possess a maritime border of more than 3,000 km. Oman has key ports of Duqm, Salalah and Sohar with international standards, while Vietnam also has many important seaports such as Hai Phong Port in the North, Da Nang Port and Quy Nhon Port in the Central region, and Saigon Port in the South”, he said.
Thanks to this very important geo-economic and geopolitical position, the two countries can find suitable mechanisms to connect by sea and by air. This is a favourable condition for future cooperation, especially in developing linkage between the two sides, the Omani ambassador said.
Meanwhile, the Vietnam-Oman Investment (VOI) joint venture is considered an important bridge between the two countries. As a joint venture between OIA (formerly the State General Reserve Fund of Oman - SGRF) in Vietnam and the State Capital Investment Corporation of Vietnam (SCIC), the VOI was established and put into operation on the basis of an agreement between the two countries and support from both Governments in 2008. From the initial committed capital of 100 million USD in 2009, through the VOI, Oman has disbursed more than 300 million USD in various fields in Vietnam to date, focusing on the fields of healthcare, services, renewable energy, clean water, hi-tech agriculture, and many other areas supporting sustainable development in Vietnam.
Evaluating the prospects and opportunities to elevate the relationship between Vietnam and Oman after 30 years of good development, Ambassador Saleh Mohamed Ahmed Al Sagri said that cooperation between the two sides is a continuous and dynamic process, requiring a mechanism to promote, monitor and persistently pursue from the two countries, thereby consolidating and developing various fields of cooperation, especially economic development, trade and other important fields that help bind the two countries.
“We believe that the good efforts of the leaders of the two countries, especially Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq Al Said and President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, will continue to raise the level of cooperation between Oman and Vietnam in various fields in line with common interests, thus serving the friendship between people of the two countries,” said the diplomat.
