The conference, chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vu Hong Nam, aimed to review the achievements in co-operation between Vietnam and other countries in the two regions over the past ten years.
The delegates to the conference also discussed orientations, policies and measures to further enhance the multifaceted relations over the coming decades.
Despite numerous difficulties, such as the impact of the world economic crisis, political and security instability in some Middle Eastern and African countries and falling oil prices, the co-operative relations between Vietnam and the two regions have continued to develop, particularly in the fields of politics, foreign affairs, trade, investment, oil and gas and science-technology.
Vietnam has invested around US$1.55 billion in the Middle East and Africa. The total trade turnover between Vietnam and the two regions reached US$17.3 billion in 2015, including US$12 billion in the Middle East (increasing six times from US$2 billion in 2008).
Delegates to the conference agreed that the domestic reforms, in addition to the numerous growth prospects and the trend towards the east of the Middle Eastern and African economies have created important opportunities for Vietnam to elevate the multifaceted relations between Vietnam and the two regions to a new height, corresponding to the sound political platform and great co-operative potentials.
The event was considered a valuable forum for policy makers, localities and enterprises as well as Vietnamese Ambassadors in Middle Eastern and African countries to meet and exchange experiences.
