Deputy PM meets Arab League Secretary-General, Sri Lankan President in Dubai

At the meeting with Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Bui highly appreciates the role of the Arab League in maintaining peace and stability, and in promoting cooperation and development in the Middle East and the African region and around the world.

Viet Nam has friendly relations with the Arab League and all member countries of the bloc, he said, adding that the Southeast Asian nation expects to continue strengthening collaboration with the bloc towards a more practical and effective manner, serving the practical economic and social development priorities of Viet Nam and the Arab countries.

Bui suggested both sides develop specific plans to effectively implement the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Arab League, particularly in priority areas such as diplomacy, economics, culture, and education.

Bui also suggested that the Secretary-General promote delegation exchanges, strengthen trade and investment ties, and enhance mutual support between Viet Nam and the member countries of the bloc at multilateral forums.

For his side, Gheit hailed Viet Nam's economic development achievements, and its increasing role and position, considering the nation as a responsible and reliable partner on the international stage and a close friend of the people of the Arab countries.

He urged both sides to maintain regular contacts at multilateral forums and expressed his desire to soon welcome Vietnamese leaders to visit and work with the Arab League.

The Secretary-General vowed to encourage member countries of the bloc to foster comprehensive cooperation with Viet Nam within both multilateral and bilateral frameworks in the near future.

The Arab League, established in 1945, is an intergovernmental organization, and consists of 22 member countries.

*During the meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Bui and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayak, both sides spoke highly of the positive development oin the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two nations over the last 55 years, which are built on political trust and a long-standing historical bond.

They emphasized the need to take specific measures to boost the traditional friendship and cooperation, increase all-level delegation exchanges, and effectively uphold existing cooperation mechanisms, such as the meetings of the joint committee and political consultations.

Dissanayake noted that there are ample room for both countries to step up economic cooperation, calling on Vietnamese businesses to invest in Sri Lanka in areas such as agriculture, education, religion, culture, tourism, and aviation.

Bui, for his side, affirmed that Viet Nam always attaches importance to its friendly relations and cooperation with Sri Lanka, and hopes to develop the bilateral relationship towards a more practical manner in the near future.

Viet Nam stands ready to share its development experience with Sri Lanka, he stated, suggesting that Sri Lanka create favorable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to strengthen trade and investment cooperation in Sri Lanka, especially in exporting Vietnamese goods such as food, household products, electronics, machinery to the country.

He asked the President of Sri Lanka to support the opening of direct flights between the two countries to promote tourism, people-to-people exchanges, and economic and trade activities.

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister Bui hosted a reception for Bahraini Minister of Finance and National Economy Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa.

Bui suggested both sides focus on enhancing delegation exchanges at all levels, promote the appointment of honorary consuls to boost political and economic ties, and actively negotiate on an agreement on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic passports.

He also suggested Viet Nam and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) negotiate a free trade deal.

Bui called on Bahraini businesses to actively seek investment opportunities in Viet Nam in priority sectors such as energy, Halal industry, digital transformation, and tourism.

Al Khalifa, for his part, said Bahrain will soon send a delegation from the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) to Viet Nam to explore cooperation and investment opportunities, particularly in the fields of financial technology and providing financial solutions for telecommunications and aviation sectors, he told.

The minister pledged to direct the Bahrain investment funds and relevant ministries and agencies to assist Viet Nam in building financial centers in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, and to soon negotiate and sign an investment protection agreement and a double taxation avoidance agreement between the two countries./.