Vietnam is willing to listen to foreign investors and facilitate their investments in the country, President Truong Tan Sang has said.

President Sang made the remarks at his reception in Hanoi on November 4 for the delegation heads of the Middle East and North African countries to the Economic Cooperation Forum between Vietnam and its Middle East-North African partners.

The first–ever forum brought together 15 delegations consisting of 250 businesses from the Middle East and North African countries.

The delegation heads shared high estimations to the organisation of the forum as a means to cement and further the growing ties between Vietnam and countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

They expressed both optimism and belief in the two sides’ cooperation prospects and showed their determination to materialise the ideals and deals reached at the forum to step up cooperation in economics, energy, investment, labour and agriculture in the coming time.

The guests also took the occasion to suggest Vietnamese leaders assist foreign businesses carry out their investment projects here.

Hailing the guests’ participation in the forum, President Sang also lauded the robust growing trade value between Vietnam and the countries in the region over the past decade, saying there are ways for the two sides to make their two-way trade value surpass the current figure of nearly 8 billion USD.

He reiterated the country’s foreign policy of placing importance on cooperation with traditional friends, including those in the Middle East-North Africa, and expressed hope that the forum will allow the sides to foster stronger exchanges in trade, investment, agriculture, and oil and gas.

President Sang suggested the delegation heads make the best use of their role as a bridge for their countries and Vietnam by continuing the outcomes reaped from the forum and increasing contacts with Vietnamese ministries, sectors and localities for cooperation between the sides to reach a higher level.-VNA