Abu Dhabi (VNA) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan agreed to elevate the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive partnership at their closed-door talks in Abu Dhabi on October 28, on the occasion of the Vietnamese leader's official visit to the Middle East country.
The UAE leader welcomed PM Chinh's official visit to the UAE, expressing his belief that it will strongly promote, create momentum, and open a new phase of cooperation between the two countries in the coming time.
He praised Vietnam's glorious history and development, emphasising that Vietnam and the UAE can learn from each other in many areas. He affirmed that Vietnam is an important partner of his country in Asia and cooperation with Vietnam is one of the Middle East country's key priorities.
For his part, Chinh expressed his admiration for achievements that the UAE has attained, which turn the country into a leading economic, financial, and technological hub in the region, a “miracle in the desert” in the Middle East.
The two sides expressed their joy over the remarkable developments in the bilateral relations, 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, reflecting the determination and expectations of the two countries' leaders to lift the bilateral relations to a new height with stronger, and more substantive and effective cooperation.
The two leaders 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; enhancing cooperation in labour, culture, tourism, sports, and people-to-people exchange; and closely coordinating, and consulting and supporting each other 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 realise the outcomes achieved during the visit. He expressed pleasure at the increasing 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 showed 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.
Regarding 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 coming time./.
