Viet Nam-Kuwait relationship on development
On the eve of Kuwait’s 61st National Day and 31st Liberation Day, it is time to highlight notable developments of Viet Nam-Kuwait bilateral relations over the years.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on the sidelines of the COP26 Summit at Glasgow, UK in November 2021. (Photo: KUNA) |
Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1976, Kuwait has been one of Viet Nam's important partners in the Middle East in general and the Gulf region in particular. In order to lay the foundation for future developments, in 2003, Viet Nam chose Kuwait as the first country in the Gulf region to open the Embassy, and in 2007, Kuwait also opened the Embassy in Ha Noi and Consulate General in HCM City.
While acknowledging the importance of promoting bilateral cooperation fields, Viet Nam and Kuwait regularly coordinate and exchange delegations at all levels. In 2007, the Prime Minister of Kuwait, His Excellency Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah paid an official visit to Viet Nam and in 2009, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung also made a State visit to Kuwait.
Continuing the strong development momentum in bilateral cooperation, in 2016, Kuwaiti Prime Minister His Excellency Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah paid an official visit to Viet Nam on the occasion of the two countries' 40th anniversary of their establishment of diplomatic relations.
At a meeting on the sidelines of the COP26 Summit in November 2021 in the United Kingdom with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Kuwaiti Prime Minister His Excellency Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, highly appreciated the development of Viet Nam-Kuwait relations during the period, and affirmed that the two countries need to coordinate more to raise the level of bilateral cooperation and promote the negotiation of cooperation and agreements.
The two sides agreed to strengthen the comprehensive relationship between the two countries, pay attention to promote cooperation and investment projects between the two countries, especially in the field of oil and gas, which both sides have great potential.
In addition to the State visits and meetings, Viet Nam and Kuwait also witnessed many visits between ministries and sectors with leading role in developing the bilateral economy, most recently of them was the visit in October 2021 by Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Oil, Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy Dr. Mohammed Abdullateef AlFares.
Recently, during their latest exchange on November 30th, 2021, Foreign Deputy Minister Pham Quang Hieu and Charge d'Affaires Faraj S. Alajmi expressed their satisfaction at the positive developments in the multifaceted cooperation between Viet Nam and Kuwait, especially in the context that the two countries are celebrating 45 years ofestablishing diplomatic relations (1/1976-1/2021).
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| Foreign Deputy Minister Pham Quang Hieu received Chargé d' Affaires of the Embassy of Kuwait Mr. Faraj S. Alajmi on November 30th, 2021. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
The two sides agreed to continue strengthening the exchange of delegations, especially high-level delegations; organize meetings of the Intergovernmental Committee and Political Consultation between the two Foreign Ministries; coordinate in reviewing and promoting cooperation documents, especially in the economic field. In the context of the complicated development of the Covid-19 epidemic, the two sides can enhance online meetings and signings.
The two sides agreed to step up investment and trade promotion activities, and cooperate in the prevention of the Covid-19 epidemic, towards a sustainable recovery after the pandemic.
It can be affirmed that economic cooperation and bilateral trade exchange between Viet Nam and Kuwait play a vital role in narrowing the geographical distance between the two peoples. Bilateral import and export turnover between the two countries has reached nearly 3.6 billion USD in 2019 and 3.2 billion USD in 2020 although this is the year that all countries in the world are affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hopefully, the Viet Nam-Kuwait bilateral relations would continue to thrive and meet the expectation of their respective governments and people.
Bui Lam (Source: Kuwait Embassy in Viet Nam)
