Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang held separate working sessions with Kuwaiti officials in Kuwait City on September 22, aiming to foster economic and diplomatic ties as the two nations near the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year.
Kuwaiti First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah welcomed Hang’s trip, saying that it takes place as bilateral relations enter a new phase after nearly 50 years of diplomatic ties.
Kuwait, the first Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country to establish diplomatic ties with Vietnam in 1976 and the GCC Chair 2025, highly values its relations with Vietnam, he stressed.
The host expressed wish to expand cooperation beyond energy and oil & gas into substantive areas such as investment, trade and tourism; and affirmed that in its capacity as GCC Chair 2025, Kuwait would support and step up the early launch of negotiations for a GCC–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.
Hang, for her part, affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to bilateral ties with GCC countries, particularly Kuwait.
Given the complex global and regional landscapes, Vietnam and Kuwait should further enhance cooperation to contribute to each country’s development, build independent and self-reliant economies, and continue to reinforce multilateralism and adherence to international law, for the sake of peace and stability in the region and the world, she said.
Co-chairing the fifth political consultation, Hang and Assistant Foreign Minister Sameeh Issa Gohar Hayat reviewed the positive trajectory of political and diplomatic ties. Economic, trade and investment ties have thrived, with Kuwait now Vietnam’s largest GCC trade and investment partner.
Hang praised Kuwait’s progress toward its Vision 2035 development goals and its role in mediating regional conflicts through peaceful solutions
Vietnam values its friendly cooperative relations with Kuwait and wishes to elevate bilateral ties to a new stage as the two countries approach the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year, she said.
Hayat, in turn, lauded Vietnam’s economic growth and bold reforms, signaling Kuwait’s interest in expanding market access for Vietnamese agricultural products and supporting an early start to GCC-Vietnam FTA talks.
He also committed to providing official development assistance for social welfare projects, exploring new investment opportunities, and continuing Arabic-language scholarships for Vietnamese students. Cooperation in the Halal sector was also flagged as a priority.
Both sides vowed to take relations to new heights, agreeing to facilitate high-level exchanges and negotiate agreements in trade, investment, food security, tourism, and culture. Plans include launching direct flights and coordinating cultural events to mark next year’s diplomatic milestone. They also committed to closer coordination at multilateral forums, including the United Nations, with Kuwait acting as a bridge between Vietnam and the GCC, and Vietnam linking Kuwait with ASEAN.
On the Nghi Son refinery, a joint project involving Vietnamese, Kuwaiti, and Japanese stakeholders, both officials reaffirmed their commitment to resolving ongoing challenges through continued dialogues.
In a separate working session with Kuwaiti Deputy Finance Minister Saad Al-Alati, who chairs the Kuwait Sub-Committee of the Vietnam-Kuwait Intergovernmental Committee, Hang pitched investment opportunities in Vietnam’s planned international financial centre in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, and urged Kuwaiti investors to tap into Vietnam’s fast-growing market of 100 million consumers.
Hang also met with Sheikh Saud Salem Al-Sabah, CEO of the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), to spotlight Vietnam’s economic progress, favourable investment climate, and strategic development goals. She invited KIA and Kuwaiti investors to increase investments in Vietnam.
Sheikh Saud expressed keen interest in the Vietnamese market, noting KIA’s intent to explore opportunities through future visits.
As part of her trip, Hang and Sheikh Jarrah attended a ceremony hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy in Kuwait to mark Vietnam’s 80th National Day./.
