Strengthening relations between Vietnam and Middle Eastern and African countries: Conference
WVR - On May 20, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a conference to review the Project “Developing Relations Between Vietnam and Middle Eastern and African Countries for the 2016-2025 Period” in a hybrid format in Hanoi.
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| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang chaired the Conference. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang chaired the conference, which was attended by over 200 delegates, including leaders from ministries and sectors, research institutes, major associations and enterprises, representatives from more than 30 provinces and cities nationwide, as well as Vietnamese diplomatic missions in the Middle East–Africa region.
In her opening remarks, Deputy Foreign Minister Hang emphasized the importance of reviewing 10 years of implementation of the Project "Developing Relations between Vietnam and Middle East–African Countries for the 2016–2025 Period." This review aims to shape future cooperation orientations with the region, especially in the context of Vietnam's current focus on implementing strategic resolutions related to institutional reform, the development of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, as well as international integration and private sector development.
The Deputy Minister affirmed that, amid rapid and complex global and regional developments, political and diplomatic relations between Vietnam and countries in the Middle East and Africa have entered a new, deeper, and more comprehensive stage of development, with many new cooperation mechanisms and areas being established.
Vietnam has completed the establishment of diplomatic relations with all countries in the Middle East–Africa region and, for the first time, has forged cooperative ties with several key regional organizations such as the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council, and has officially become an Observer of the African Union.
Building on strong political relations, economic, trade, and investment cooperation between Vietnam and the region has yielded many positive results. This area continues to serve as a key pillar of bilateral relations and is opening up new opportunities for development for people and businesses on both sides.
Ministries, sectors, businesses, and localities recognize the Middle East–Africa region as a large and promising market. The import and export structures of the two sides are highly complementary, and Vietnam still has significant potential to boost exports of key products to the region — especially goods that meet Halal certification standards.
However, delegates candidly acknowledged that, despite the positive outcomes, trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and countries in the region still faces numerous challenges. Namely, among them is the lack of a comprehensive legal framework for economic cooperation, including fundamental agreements such as the Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Agreement on the Encouragement and Protection of Investment. In addition, the network of representative offices — both governmental and corporate — remains limited, and resources allocated for cooperation with Middle Eastern and African countries are still insufficient.
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| Nguyen Phuc Nam, Deputy Director of the Asia-Africa Market Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade, assessed the trade situation between Vietnam and the Middle East-Africa last year. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
In preparation for a new phase of cooperation, delegates put forward a number of proposals to enhance the effectiveness of engagement with the region. These focused on deepening ties with regional countries, identifying priority partners and key areas of cooperation, advancing the completion of legal frameworks, and outlining measures to expand Vietnam’s two-way trade and investment with the Middle East and Africa. Based on the outcomes achieved so far, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, localities, and businesses to develop and submit to the Prime Minister a set of cooperation orientations for the next phase.
Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang reaffirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese representative missions in the region remain committed to supporting and accompanying ministries, sectors, localities, and businesses in fostering more substantive and effective relations between Vietnam and Middle Eastern and African countries, thereby contributing to the fulfillment of the country's development goals.
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