During his meeting with Ambassador Al-sabbagh, President Phuc affirmed the nation’s recognition of importance to and desires to foster the traditional friendship with Kuwait, one of the leading economic partners of Vietnam in the Middle East.
Regarding last year’s bilateral trade valued at roughly US$4.8 billion, up 48% year-on-year, Phuc suggested Kuwait facilitate the penetration of Vietnamese goods, especially agricultural products, seafood, garments-textiles, wood products and components, into Kuwait and other Gulf nations.
He also called on Kuwait to coordinate with Vietnamese partners and enterprises in trade promotion, and to seek suitable solutions for the Nghi Son Oil Refinery.
Hailing the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development that has provided preferential loans for mountainous and disadvantaged provinces of Vietnam over the past nearly four decades, the Vietnamese State leader asked the fund to fast-track the preparation and signing of loan agreements for projects.
He also suggested Kuwait pay greater attention to protecting legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese labourers, saying both sides should sign an agreement on labour cooperation to create a legal corridor for the bilateral collaboration in this regard soon.
In response, Al-sabbagh stressed that his nation backs Vietnam at international forums and organisations, saying Kuwait supported the Southeast Asian nation’s non-permanent membership at the UN Security Council for 2020-2021, granted scholarships to Vietnamese students, assisted Vietnam in socio-economic development, especially rural and disadvantaged areas, and offer the best possible conditions for Vietnamese citizens to return home safely amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ambassador pledged to make every effort to enhance the bilateral ties across a variety of fields.
Meeting with the Israeli Ambassador, President Phuc said that Vietnam places importance on cooperation with Israel, particularly in economy, science-technology, innovative startup, labour and tourism, adding that many Vietnamese research and startup delegations visited Israel to learn from the country’s experience.
He suggested the two countries soon resume the exchange of delegations and cooperation mechanisms, especially the third meeting of the joint-governmental committee.
Phuc asked both nations strengthen their coordination and mutual support at international forums and organisations, and organise many practical activities marking the 30th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties (1993-2023).
Trade between Vietnam and Israel hit US$2 billion last year, a year-on-year rise of 20%, Phuc said, while calling on the ambassador to make greater contributions in order to elevate the bilateral trade revenue to US$10 billion in the time ahead.
He underlined the need for the two countries to promote trade, investment and tourism promotion activities in-person as the pandemic has been initially brought under control, while speeding up the negotiations and signing of a bilateral free trade agreement and another on labour cooperation.
Collaboration in other fields like science-technology, personnel training and national defence should also be intensified, he went on to say.
The ambassador, in turn, stated that education would serve as an effective bridge between people of the two countries as thousands of Vietnamese students are studying in Israel.
Broader tourism cooperation will facilitate the traveling of Israeli people to Vietnam and vice versa, the diplomat added. He also pledged his best efforts to propel cooperation between Vietnam and Israel forward.
