Historic visit of Jordan's King to mark breakthroughs in Vietnam-Jordan relations: Ambassador
WVR - According to Vietnamese Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) concurrently accreditted to Jordan Nguyen Thanh Diep, the visit to Vietnam by Jordan's King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein marks a historic milestone in the relations between the two countries, ushering in a new phase of cooperation and laying the groundwork for promoting collaboration in mutually interested areas.
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| Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Diep presents the Letter of Credence to Jordan's King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein at the Royal Palace of Jordan, March 3, 2025. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in UAE) |
On the occasion of the upcoming official visit to Vietnam by King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Vietnamese Ambassador to the UAE concurrently accreditted Jordan, Nguyen Thanh Diep, shared with The World & Vietnam Report the significance of the visit and the anticipated breakthroughs in bilateral relations following this historic milestone.
How do you assess the significance of King Abdullah II's first-ever visit to Vietnam, especially as this year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries (August 9, 1980 - August 9, 2025)? What impressions has the King shared about Vietnam and its people during his interactions?
Taking place as the two countries celebrate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations (August 9, 1980 - August 9, 2025), the visit of King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein to Vietnam holds significant importance. It is the first visit by the head of the Kingdom of Jordan to Vietnam and the first exchange of state/government-level delegations between the two countries since establishing diplomatic relations.
This is also the first visit by a Middle Eastern head of state to Vietnam in nine years. The visit marks a historic milestone in the relations between the two countries, opening a new phase of cooperation and laying the groundwork for promoting collaboration in mutually interested areas.
Through interactions with Vietnamese leaders, King Abdullah II expressed very positive impressions of Vietnam and its people; he praised Vietnam for its "strong resurgence" and admired its socio-economic development achievements and robust growth, along with the "diligent and hardworking Vietnamese people", expressing a desire to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in politics, economy, and society. The King emphasized having "a special affection for Vietnam and wishes to visit Vietnam as soon as possible".
What special activities are expected during King Abdullah II's upcoming visit? What are the Ambassador's expectations for this historic visit concerning bilateral relations?
King Abdullah II is expected to hold talks and meetings with key Vietnamese leaders, witness the signing of documents, deliver a speech at the Vietnam-Jordan Business Forum, attend a Textile and Garment Business Roundtable, lay a wreath in tribute to the heroic martyrs, and visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
Through this visit, I hope the relations between the two countries will achieve breakthroughs in all areas in the near future. In terms of political-diplomatic relations, the two countries will enhance exchanges of delegations at all levels, especially high-level ones, and continue to coordinate closely and support each other at international forums and organizations.
In terms of economic-trade-investment relations, both sides aim to increase trade turnover to 500 million USD by 2030 and reach 1 billion USD by 2035. They will enhance cooperation in food security, promote collaboration in the Halal sector, including training, production, processing, packaging, distribution, and mutual recognition of Halal certificates; strengthen cooperation in education and training, develop high-quality human resources in information technology, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and green energy; and promote tourism promotion, a potential area of cooperation for both sides.
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| Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Diep working with Jordan's Ambassador to the UAE, Majed T.Alqatarneh. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in UAE) |
Could you share some notable bilateral cooperation achievements in recent times and the potential areas and strengths that Vietnam and Jordan should focus on in the coming period?
Recently, the two countries have closely coordinated and supported each other at international forums and organizations. The trade turnover in 2024 reached approximately 190 million USD, with Vietnam exporting over 95% (nearly 181 million USD), mainly agricultural and aquatic products, electronic products, and consumer goods.
Regarding investment, as of the end of September 2025, Jordan has five investment projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of 1 million USD, ranking 108th out of 153 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.
In the future, both sides need to enhance exchanges of delegations at all levels, especially high-level ones; continue to coordinate closely and support each other at international forums and organizations; strengthen cooperation in food security, promote collaboration in the Halal sector, enhance cooperation in education and training, develop high-quality human resources, and promote tourism promotion, a potential area of cooperation for both sides.
Could you offer some advice to Vietnamese businesses looking to access and cooperate with the Jordanian market in particular and the Middle Eastern market in general?
Jordan and the Middle Eastern market, in general, are potential areas for Vietnamese businesses. To effectively conduct business in this region, companies should first thoroughly understand Islamic culture and local business practices (Middle Eastern countries highly value religion, customs, and Islamic culture; businesses should avoid products, images, and communication sensitive to religion; emphasize personal relationships and trust).
Additionally, businesses should enhance their presence by promoting and advertising products, participating in major industry fairs in Dubai (UAE), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Doha (Qatar), such as Gulfood, Arab Health, Big 5, ADIPEC to find partners. To create a competitive advantage, they should prioritize investing in industries that meet regional needs, such as agriculture, food, Halal production, seafood, building materials, consumer goods, textiles, renewable energy, logistics, information technology, and skilled labor. Businesses should manage risks and payments well, avoid unclear intermediaries, and thoroughly check partner credibility before cooperation.
Do you have any special impressions of Jordan, a place that converges many wonders and ancient relics?
I am very impressed with Petra, a world cultural heritage site, "one of humanity's most precious cultural assets". In 2007, Petra was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Petra has also been the backdrop for many famous films, such as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Mummy Returns, and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen...
Petra is called "The Rose City" because its sandstone cliffs have a vibrant pink color that changes with the sunlight. Petra was built over 2,000 years ago by the Nabataeans, an ancient Arab people known for their stone carving skills and control of the spice and silk trade routes connecting Arabia, Egypt, and the Mediterranean. Petra is not just a city but a marvel entirely carved into the rock.
In Petra, I am particularly impressed by Al-Khazneh ("The Treasury"), Petra's most famous structure, about 40 meters high, intricately carved directly onto the pink rock face. Additionally, Petra has The Monastery (Ad-Deir), the most majestic structure, located high up, requiring climbing over 800 stone steps to reach; the Roman Theater, a Roman-style theater with a capacity of about 3,000 people; the Royal Tombs, a complex of Nabataean royal tombs; and a sophisticated underground water system and reservoirs, demonstrating advanced engineering skills of the time.
Petra is not just a tourist destination but a symbol of Jordanian identity, reflecting the intersection of nature, creativity, and millennia-old history. Petra is a vivid testament to the talent and intelligence of ancient people, a source of pride for Jordanians, and a symbol of resilience, creativity, and peace, values that the country has been pursuing over time.
Thank you very much, Ambassador!
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| Petra, known as The Rose City, is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. (Source: Getty Images) |
