Vietnam, UAE elevate relations to comprehensive partnership

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become Vietnam's first comprehensive partner in the Middle East, underscoring the two nations' commitment and high expectations for a strengthened, practical and effective collaboration.

During their talks on Monday, Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the UAE's President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan agreed to lift their bilateral relationship to a comprehensive partnership.

The meeting took place as part of PM Chinh's official visit to the UAE which is expected to mark a new phase of enhanced bilateral cooperation.

The two leaders outlined six priority areas for cooperation, including swiftly establishing action plans under the Comprehensive Partnership framework; advancing collaboration in innovation, green transition, digital transformation and circular economy; and driving breakthroughs in bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation.

Others are developing the Halal industry and expanding the market for Vietnamese Halal products; strengthening cooperation in labor, culture, tourism, sports and people-to-people exchange; and closely coordinating, consulting and supporting each other on regional and global issues in multilateral forums.

President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan reaffirmed that Vietnam was a key partner of the UAE in Asia and cooperation with the Southeast Asian country was one of the UAE's major interests. He praised Vietnam's proud history and remarkable growth.

Expressing his pleasure at visiting the UAE officially for the first time, PM Chinh commended the UAE’s achievements, which positioned the country as a leading economic, financial and technological hub in the region, a true "miracle in the desert" of the Middle East.

Both leaders expressed delight over the remarkable progress in bilateral relations, which has been marked by three key advancements: strengthened political trust and mutual understanding, increasingly substantive economic cooperation, and more robust support and coordination in multilateral forums.

The UAE President said he was glad to see the increasing number of Vietnamese workers in the UAE and assured that support would be provided to help the Vietnamese community settle in the country.

He endorsed the establishment of a Vietnamese cultural center in the UAE and committed to overseeing specific initiatives, such as supporting a youth football academy in Vietnam and establishing a financial center in Ho Chi Minh City.

Investment from the UAE remains modest in Vietnam. As of September, the UAE, the 28th largest economy in the world, had 42 investment projects worth a combined $74 million in Vietnam, ranking 52nd among 148 countries and territories investing in the country, according to Vietnamese government data.

The UAE is the first leg of PM Chinh’s Middle East tour that includes official visits to the UAE and Qatar, attendance at the eighth edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII), and a working trip to Saudi Arabia from October 27 to November 1.