Vietnam and Qatar foster implementation of high-level commitments, aim for new cooperation framework
WVR - On July 21, within the framework of the Vietnam-Qatar Joint Committee on Economic, Trade, Cultural, and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, aimed at promoting the implementation of high-level commitments between the two countries, Director General of the Middle East and Africa Department Nguyen Phuong Tra and Director General of the Asia Department under Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar Jawhara Yousef Fakhro co-chaired an online working group meeting at the director general level.
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Attending the meeting on Vietnam's side were representatives from the Government Office, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Industry and Trade, Justice, Science and Technology, and the Vietnamese Embassy in Qatar. On the Qatar side, representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Finance, Commerce and Industry, and the Qatari Embassy in Hanoi were present.
During the meeting, both sides affirmed their commitment to the Vietnam-Qatar friendship and cooperation, agreeing to enhance coordination between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs as the focal point for effectively implementing commitments and agreements between the two nations.
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| Nguyen Phuong Tra, Director General of the Middle East and Africa Department, and Jawhara Yousef Fakhro, Director General of the Asia Department (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar), co-chaired the online working group meeting at the director general level. (Photo: Ha Ngoc) |
Director General Al Jawhara shared insights on the regional situation's impact on bilateral cooperation, affirming Qatar's desire and actions to elevate bilateral relations to a new framework as agreed during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Qatar in 2024. The immediate focus is on meticulously preparing for upcoming high-level delegation exchanges.
In a spirit of frank and substantive exchange, both sides conducted a comprehensive review and agreed to organize the third session of the Vietnam-Qatar Joint Committee and the fourth Political Consultation between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs in 2026.
Recognizing the positive outcomes in bilateral trade in recent years, both sides agreed to expedite negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), enhance market access for each other's goods, and boost trade-investment promotion activities and business connectivity.
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| Vietnam and Qatar agreed to organize the third session of the Joint Committee in 2026. (Photo: Ha Ngoc) |
Vietnam proposed that both sides promote cooperation in liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade in a stable, long-term manner, strategically significant for Vietnam's energy security and production. Vietnam also invited the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) to visit Vietnam for direct assessment of investment opportunities. Qatar affirmed its readiness to share information on modern financial tools and structures and expressed interest in exploring public-private partnership (PPP) projects in Vietnam.
Appreciating Vietnam's information on priorities and incentives in science and technology, innovation, Qatar expressed interest in promoting cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity. Both sides agreed to regularly update the progress of cooperation in these areas through their respective focal points.
Concluding the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining seamless communication channels, facilitating direct connections between the ministries and sectors of the two countries to effectively implement agreed commitments and agreements.
