Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh made the remarks in an article published ahead of an economic co-operation forum between Vietnam and nations from the Middle East-North Africa region, which is slated for November 4-5 in Hanoi.
“Despite geographical distance, Vietnam and the Middle East-North Africa boast time-honoured co-operative and friendly ties, which have withstood by the test of the history’s ups and downs,” FM Minh said.
On this basis, achievements have been recorded in the relationship between Vietnam and these countries in recent years, he said.
The two sides have maintained regular exchanges of delegations at all levels, particularly high-ranking delegations. Among them were Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung's visits to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait and Qatar in 2009; those by President Nguyen Minh Triet to Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Algeria in 2010; the visits to Vietnam by the Prime Ministers of Kuwait (2007) and Morocco (2008) and the visit by the Palestinian President (2010).
“The visits have contributed significantly to shaping and promoting the multifaceted co-operation framework between Vietnam and the countries,” FM Minh said.
In terms of economic co-operation, two-way trade between Vietnam and the region was US$7.4 billion in 2012, an 878% increase from 2002 (US$889 million). Some countries from the region have also invested actively in Vietnam, financing in part the Nghi Son oil refinery and the Long Son petrochemical complex, among other projects. Vietnamese enterprises have invested in oil exploration and extraction projects in the Middle East.
Hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese experts and workers have given knowledge and strength to the development of many Middle Eastern and North African countries, serving as a bridge of friendship between the two sides, FM Minh said.
Currently, more than 26,000 Vietnamese workers are taking part in a number of projects in Saudi Arabia (17,000 workers), the UAE (7,500), and Libya (1,000).
In the context of the rapid development of bilateral co-operation, Vietnam has become a new destination in the expansion strategies of major regional airlines such as Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Emirates Airlines, and Etihad Airways.
In development co-operation, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, OPEC Fund for International Development and the Saudi Fund for Development have provided over US$427 million in preferential loans in recent years for 33 projects on rural infrastructure development, health care and education in Vietnam. These projects have made practical contributions to socio-economic development and poverty reduction in many Vietnamese localities, helping improve the quality of life for local people.
Co-operation on the development of human resources is a demonstration of the friendship between the two sides. Along with the Vietnam-Algeria Secondary School, established in Hanoi in 1985, scholarship programmes have been created by Egypt, Iran, Libya, Turkey, Qatar, Kuwait and Morocco for Vietnamese students and by Vietnam for students of Palestine, Iran and Iraq.
Vietnam is delighted at the remarkable recent developments in relations between the two sides, particularly in trade, energy, investment and labour, making Middle Eastern and North African countries important economic partners.
The diplomat said, however, that compared with the potential and desire of both sides, the co-operative reality remains modest.
He added that while two-way trade between Vietnam and Middle East – North Africa countries has grown rapidly, it accounted for just 5% of Vietnam’s total import-export value in 2012.
FM Minh cited the lack of information as one of the main reasons behind the limited performance, calling for further efforts from both sides to improve the effectiveness of co-operation.
With the participation of representatives from the Government, ministries, localities and business communities of both sides, the upcoming forum will be an opportunity for policymakers and business leaders to enhance mutual understanding.
It will serve as a forum to discuss specific measures to raise the effectiveness of economic ties and open up business opportunities for enterprises from both areas.
“We believe that the forum will be a success, creating a new driving force to further enhance the effectiveness of economic links between Vietnam and its Middle Eastern and North African partners,” the diplomat concluded.
