Prime Minister leaves for ASEAN-GCC Summit, Saudi Arabia visit

Pham is accompanied by Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung, Deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Duy Ngoc, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet, Vice Chairman of the Government Office Nguyen Xuan Thanh, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong, Deputy Minister of Finance Cao Anh Tuan and Deputy Minister of Justice Tran Tien Dung.

This is the first summit between ASEAN and the GCC since the two bloc began formal contact in 1990.

The event is an important milestone in elevating the cooperation between the two regional organizations to a new height to meet both sides’ demand.

The relations between Viet Nam and GCC member countries have developed positively, with the two-way trade turnover totalling US$12.5 billion. Foreign direct investment (FDI) from GCC countries in Viet Nam currently stands at about US$1 billion.

Trade turnover between Viet Nam and Saudi Arabia reached US$2.7 billion in 2022. A number of business giants from Saudi Arabia are implementing investment projects in the Southeast Asian nation. About 4,000 - 5,000 Vietnamese people are working in the GCC country.

Prime Minister Chinh’s tour to Saudi Arabia is of importance as it reflects Viet Nam’s determination to join other ASEAN members in showing a new stature – independence, solidarity and development and promotes the country’s political confidence and cooperation with Saudi Arabia. 

It also aims to demonstrate Viet Nam’s strong commitment and responsible contributions to enhancing friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between ASEAN and GCC, and building a peaceful and stable regional and international environment./.