Vietnam, UAE upgrade bilateral relations to comprehensive partnership

The host leader welcomed PM Chinh's official visit to the UAE, expressing his confidence that it will strongly promote, create momentum, and open a new phase of cooperation between the two nations in the near future.

He hailed Vietnam's glorious history and development, emphasizing that Vietnam and the UAE can learn from each other in a variety of areas. He highlighted Vietnam as an important partner of his country in Asia and cooperation with Vietnam is one of the Middle East country's key priorities.

In response, the Vietnamese Government leader expressed his admiration for achievements that the UAE has recorded, which turn the country into a leading economic, financial, and technological hub in the region, a “miracle in the desert” in the Middle East.

Host and guest showed their elation over the remarkable developments in the bilateral ties, with increasing political trust and mutual understanding; more substantive economic cooperation; and closer and more effective collaboration and mutual support at multilateral forums.

With the comprehensive partnership, the UAE becomes Vietnam's first comprehensive partner in the Middle East, indicating the determination and expectations of the two countries' leaders to elevate the bilateral relations to new heights with stronger, and more substantive and effective cooperation.

Both sides agreed on six priorities for cooperation, including urgently developing action programmes to immediately implement the framework of the comprehensive partnership; promoting cooperation in innovation, green transition, digital transformation, and circular economy; creating breakthroughs in bilateral economic, trade, and investment cooperation; cooperating in developing the Halal industry and opening the market for Vietnamese Halal products; stepping up cooperation in labour, culture, tourism, sports, and people-to-people exchange; and closely coordinating, and consulting and offering mutual support on regional and global issues at multilateral forums.

Chinh asked UAE authorities to create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community living and working in the country.

Zayed Al Nahyan affirmed that he will direct relevant UAE agencies to coordinate with the Vietnamese side to carry out the outcomes achieved during the visit. He expressed pleasure at the growing number of Vietnamese workers in the UAE, affirming to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese to live and work stably in his country.

The host leader also voiced his support for the establishment of a Vietnamese cultural centre in the UAE, and stated that he will direct the implementation of specific projects, such as supporting a youth football academy in Vietnam and establishing a financial centre in Ho Chi Minh City.

Concerning the East Sea issue, the Vietnamese leader called on the UAE to support the stance of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Vietnam on the issue to ensure peace, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight; resolve disputes by peaceful measures based on respect for international law, the UN Charter, and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

Chinh conveyed State President Luong Cuong's invitation to the UAE President to visit Vietnam. Accepting the invitation with pleasure, Zayed Al Nahyan said he will make a visit to Vietnam in the time ahead.