Gov’t chief receives UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade
VGP - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Thursday hosted a reception for UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, who is on a working visit to Viet Nam.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Ha Noi, January 25, 2024 - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
The visit aims to speed up negotiations on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) between Viet Nam and the UAE and accelerate the implementation of the major orientations reached by the two countries during Prime Minister Pham’s trip to Dubai to attend the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) and some bilateral activities in the UAE.
Pham suggested the UAE encourage enterprises and investment funds to explore opportunities and expand operations in Viet Nam and support the Southeast Asian nation to build and operate an international financial center in Ho Chi Minh City.
He urged the UAE to back Viet Nam in developing the Viet Nam National Innovation Center (NIC), promote the development of the Halal food industry, and cooperate in energy and sports sectors.
In reply, the UAE official said that there remain abundant potentials for the bilateral cooperation, especially in economy, trade, investment, Halal food, energy, petroleum as well as labor.
Last year, trade between Viet Nam and the UAE reached US$4.7 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 5.9 percent. Around 40 UAE enterprises are operating in Viet Nam with a total investment of US$71.7 million./.
