New momentum from Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's Middle East-Africa trip: FM Le Hoai Trung
WVR - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to the Middle East and Africa has sparked new expectations for strategic cooperation and sustainable development.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse during their visit to Kuwait. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his spouse, and a high-level Vietnamese delegation returned to Hanoi this afternoon, concluding their official visit to Kuwait, Algeria, and participation in the G20 Summit and bilateral activities in South Africa from November 16–24. Central Party Secretary and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung shared insights on the outstanding results of the mission in a press interview.
Could the Central Party Secretary and Minister of Foreign Affairs share the prominent outcomes of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to Kuwait, Algeria, participation in the G20 Summit, and bilateral activities in South Africa?
Following a series of high-level diplomatic activities in 2025 with the Middle East–Africa region, the official visit to Kuwait, Algeria, participation in the G20 Summit, and bilateral activities in South Africa by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his spouse, and the high-level Vietnamese delegation concluded successfully.
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| Member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
The mission featured a packed schedule with 75 diverse and effective activities, ranging from high-level meetings with top state, government, parliamentary, and party leaders of the three countries to engagements with major corporations, economic organizations, policy speeches, and cultural, sports, and historical events, as well as meetings with the Vietnamese community in the three countries.
All three countries accorded a very respectful reception to the Prime Minister and our delegation, reflecting the importance they place on the excellent current relationships, traditions, and potential cooperation with Vietnam in the future.
In addition to the Prime Minister's activities, various ministries and sectors also held highly effective meetings with partners in all three countries.
As for the outcomes, the visit laid a new foundation for strategic cooperation, diversification of partnerships, and expansion of development opportunities for businesses and localities. Vietnam and the three countries elevated their relations to Strategic Partnerships, making Kuwait, Algeria, and South Africa the first three Strategic Partners among 70 Middle Eastern–African nations, and positioning Vietnam as a key link in the priority Strategic Partner network of these countries. Vietnam and the three countries signed over 10 cooperation agreements in various fields.
Through the joint Statement establishing Strategic Partnerships and signing cooperation agreements, as well as through working exchanges between the Prime Minister, ministries, sectors, and leaders, partners, and businesses, we have had the opportunity to strengthen the very good traditional relationships with the three countries.
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| Welcoming ceremony for Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse during their official visit to Algeria. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
What deeply moved us was the very respectful and warm reception by all three countries for Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his spouse, and the high-level Vietnamese delegation; the exchanges were genuine and cordial, like among close friends and brothers: The Emir of Kuwait spent three times the usual duration in his meeting with the Prime Minister, sharing words "from heart to heart", emphasizing "considering Vietnam's interests as Kuwait's interests", and "caring for the people of Kuwait as much as for the people of Vietnam".
The President of Algeria expressed readiness for "unlimited, barrier-free, and distance-free" cooperation with Vietnam; the Algerian Prime Minister dedicated his entire time from personally welcoming at the airport to discussions, banquets, and hosting additional meetings with ministries and businesses late into the night to "finalize and execute" the commitments just agreed upon; the Algerian people warmly welcomed the Prime Minister and our delegation.
In South Africa, despite the peak G20 week gathering 63 delegations, the South African President received, held talks, signed documents, and appointed the Vice President to co-chair the Business Forum.
These gestures demonstrate high political trust, creating momentum for a new phase of cooperation with great expectations placed on Vietnam, "colouring the blank canvas of the Middle East-Africa" with specific projects and value chains.
All three destinations are key geo-strategic hubs of the Middle East-Africa undergoing significant changes, coinciding with each country's special role and position in the region and internationally. South Africa is the G20 Chair in 2025, hosting the G20 Summit in Africa for the first time. Algeria is a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2024–2025 term, a significant voice in North Africa-Mediterranean; it is the third-largest economy in Africa. South Africa and Algeria have a tradition of solidarity with Vietnam. Kuwait currently chairs many GCC activities in 2025, serving as a gateway to the Gulf region in finance, energy, and connectivity with ASEAN, and was the first Gulf country to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. (Photo: Nhat Bac) |
Through the visit, we have strengthened traditional relations, reinforced current cooperation areas, and opened up new cooperation fields, including those crucial for Vietnam and aligned with the potential of the countries, such as energy-petrochemicals, investment cooperation in production, processing of agricultural, aquatic, and mineral products; promoting FTAs, opening markets, and deeper participation in the GCC and African supply chains; attracting abundant Gulf capital; cooperation in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation; defense and security cooperation; establishing direct flights, visa exemptions, and people-to-people exchanges.
Regarding the G20 Summit, this marks the second consecutive year Vietnam has been invited to participate as a guest, despite not holding the rotating chairmanship of any multilateral forum. This underscores our country's growing role and position and the international community's recognition of Vietnam's contributions.
This G20 Summit took place amid very complex international situations, both politically, security-wise, and economically. Approximately 40 countries participated, all at a high level, including leaders of G20 member countries and guest countries, along with over 20 international organizations. Countries emphasized the need to strengthen multilateralism and international cooperation and solidarity. The high-level participation of many countries affirmed the role and support of countries for the G20 Summit, and the G20 countries also adopted declarations and various cooperation mechanisms and measures.
Additionally, discussions and assessments of the political and economic situation highlighted priority issues to address, including those significantly related to Vietnam. These include how to achieve sustainable and inclusive development in the current context, how to maintain trade, and promote investment in the current situation, especially the pressing issue of combating climate change and natural disasters. Therefore, the significance of this G20 Summit is very important.
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| G20 Chair in 2025 welcomes Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. (Photo: Nhat Bac) |
At the Summit, the Prime Minister delivered remarks on two major areas: enhancing international solidarity and sustainable development in the current context, and specific issues, including cooperation related to essential minerals, labor, and employment issues.
Our message was highly regarded by other countries because Vietnam has achieved many socio-economic development successes in recent times, has a comprehensive development strategy, including sustainable development and employment, and Vietnam is also valued for its potential in essential minerals. Our delegation leader proposed that in the current context, countries must enhance solidarity and cooperation, and to achieve cooperation in this phase, it is crucial to strengthen existing mechanisms, implement reform measures, and ensure peace, stability, and sustainable development.
On the occasion of the Summit, despite the very short time, the Prime Minister met and exchanged with 30 leaders of countries and international organizations about Vietnam's current development path, efforts, and achievements in institutional improvement. Alongside this, the Prime Minister delivered policy speeches and exchanged with leaders of countries and businesses in the three countries visited about Vietnam's achievements, development directions, and foreign policy, helping partners better understand and build trust in promoting political, economic, trade, and investment relations.
We and our partners discussed cooperation in detail, including issues we wish to promote and resolve. The areas of exchange were comprehensive, covering agriculture, industry, and new fields such as innovation, science and technology, digital transformation, and defense and security, for our benefit and that of our partners, as well as regional and global interests.
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| At the Summit, the Prime Minister delivered remarks on two major areas: enhancing international solidarity and sustainable development in the current context and specific issues. (Photo: Nhat Bac) |
Thus, through participating in this summit, we contribute to a very important international event, in line with our foreign policy of being an active and responsible member of the international community. As outlined in the draft Political Report for the 14th National Party Congress, we will proactively and actively contribute to addressing common issues and take advantage of cooperation from multilateral institutions, including the G20 and international organizations.
We are also touched by the sentiments and sharing of leaders of countries and international organizations with the Vietnamese people regarding the immense losses of life and property in recent storms and floods, as well as their readiness to support Vietnam in overcoming the aftermath of natural disasters. The Prime Minister and leaders of countries and international organizations share a clear understanding of the need for joint cooperation and shared responsibility in combating climate change and joint efforts to overcome the severe consequences of natural disasters.
What will Vietnam and the countries do to implement the outcomes of the visit, Minister?
The Prime Minister and our high-level leaders highly value the implementation of agreements reached with international partners. The Prime Minister always emphasizes seizing opportunities, stressing "what is said must be done, what is committed must be implemented, and what is implemented must yield concrete results and products".
For these partners, it is crucial in the coming time to raise awareness and change perceptions about promoting substantial relations with Middle Eastern and African countries, despite differences and potential challenges compared to long-established relationships with other partners. In the context of many complex difficulties, to build an autonomous economy, diversify partners, markets, supply sources, and investment sources, we must expand partnerships, including with the Middle East and Africa, which hold significant potential in economics, science and technology, and minerals. The countries we visited believe that exchanges should start earlier and be promoted further.
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| The Prime Minister emphasizes seizing opportunities, stressing "what is said must be done, what is committed must be implemented, and what is implemented must yield concrete results and products". (Photo: Nhat Bac) |
Secondly, we need to coordinate with the countries to soon develop action programs and specific plans to implement the newly established Strategic Partnership framework.
Thirdly, we need to effectively utilize existing mechanisms between Vietnam and the three countries, while also leveraging new mechanisms and establishing additional ones if necessary. In all three countries, we discussed the need to upgrade current cooperation committee mechanisms from deputy ministerial to ministerial level or add coordination mechanisms to promote cooperation between ministries, sectors, localities, and businesses.
Fourthly, the results of the visit need to be communicated to sectors, levels, localities, and businesses, enabling them to proactively develop plans to implement and promote cooperation with partners within bilateral and multilateral frameworks. For example, with Kuwait, to promote relations with the GCC, with Algeria and South Africa, to promote relations with free trade blocs in Southern Africa or relations with the African Union.
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| Vietnam needs to continue to persist and adopt creative measures to seize opportunities and conditions from multilateral mechanisms, including the G20. (Photo: Nhat Bac) |
Fifthly, regarding the G20 Summit, one of the highlights is that despite current complexities and difficulties, countries recognize the need to leverage multilateral institutions, promote the role of multilateralism, and propose specific measures and mechanisms to achieve these goals. Therefore, we need to continue to persist and adopt creative measures to seize opportunities and conditions from multilateral mechanisms, including the G20.
We have the potential not only to seize conditions but also to contribute in line with our foreign policy and development strategy, as highlighted in the draft Political Report for the 14th National Party Congress and emphasized by General Secretary To Lam, which is to actively and positively participate in global political life, the international economy, and human civilization. This means we participate more proactively and actively in addressing common issues and, through this, seize favorable conditions to develop the country from multilateral institutions.
