This is the first official visits to the UAE and Qatar by a Vietnamese PM in the past 15 years, and the first-ever visit to Saudi Arabia since the two countries established diplomatic relations.
It also marks the first time PM Pham Minh Chinh has been invited as the chief guest and the only high-ranking leader in Asia to address the IFF.
The UAE is focusing on reforms to reduce dependence on oil, diversify the economy — especially digital transformation, green transformation and innovation — and become the largest economy in the Middle East in the non-oil sector.
In the Middle East-North Africa region, the UAE plays an important role, promoting ties with the Arab bloc and the Gulf region. In recent years, the UAE has implemented a "Look East" policy, attaching importance to relations with Asian countries, including Vietnam.
Cooperation between Vietnam and the UAE has been developing well, with the two countries regularly exchanging delegations at all levels. The UAE is the first country in the Middle East-Africa region with which Vietnam discussed upgrading relations to a new level.
Economically, the UAE stands as Vietnam's largest export market in the Middle East and Africa, with two-way trade reaching 4.7 billion USD in 2023, up 6.8% compared to 2022.
The two countries are negotiating a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), aiming to conclude the negotiations during the PM’s visit. As of June 2024, the UAE had 41 projects valued at 71.6 million USD in Vietnam, and there were about 3,000 Vietnamese workers in the UAE.
Qatar implements a balanced foreign policy, promoting mediation and reconciliation efforts to enhance its role and position in the region and the world. Cooperation between Vietnam and Qatar has developed positively, with the two sides maintaining delegation exchanges at all levels while coordinating and supporting each other at international forums.
Qatar, with its strong potential in energy and finance, presents significant economic and investment opportunities for Vietnam. Two-way trade amounted to 497.2 million USD in 2023, up 32% year on year.
Saudi Arabia is the largest economy in the Gulf region, has the second largest oil reserves in the world, and is striving to become a leading financial, commercial, and tourism centre in the region.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has promoted its foreign policy towards promoting its role as a mediator in major conflicts in the region, diversifying relations and strengthening its "Look East" policy.
The Prime Minister's working trip is of great significance in consolidating political trust, enhancing Vietnam's relations with the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, contributing to opening a new chapter of cooperation between Vietnam and the three Middle Eastern countries, especially by creating a breakthrough in attracting investment from these countries to Vietnam.
The Vietnam-Saudi Arabia relationship is on the rise with many substantive results. The two countries are actively promoting delegation exchanges at all levels, coordinating and supporting each other at international forums.
Saudi Arabia is Vietnam's third largest trading partner in the Middle East and North Africa, with two-way trade hitting 2.68 billion USD in 2023. Major economic groups from Saudi Arabia are increasingly interested in Vietnam, and there are around 4,000 Vietnamese workers in the country.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to the UAE and the State of Qatar and attendance at FII is a practical step in the realisation of the 13th National Party Congress’s foreign policy and the project on developing relations between Vietnam and Middle Eastern and African countries in the 2016-2025 period, affirming the consistent policy that Vietnam always attaches importance to friendly relations and cooperation with friendly countries in the Middle East.
The prime minister's working trip is of great significance in consolidating political trust, enhancing Vietnam's relations with the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, contributing to opening a new chapter of cooperation between Vietnam and the three Middle Eastern countries, especially by creating a breakthrough in attracting investment from these countries to Vietnam; promoting cooperation in new areas, especially innovation, digital transformation, green transformation, energy transformation, and cooperation in developing Vietnam's Halal industry; and allowing Vietnamese goods and services to access Gulf markets.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to the UAE and Qatar, and his working visit to Saudi Arabia is expected to be a great success, contributing to increasing understanding, trust and creating new momentum, further deepening the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and other countries.
