PM suggests early establishment of official relationship with African Union

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives Ambassadors from Middle Eastern and African nations, Ha Noi,  September 10, 2019 - Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu

     >>> Remarks by Deputy PM, FM Minh at "Meet Ambassadors from the Middle East and Africa 2019" Conference

At the meeting, the PM welcomed the initiative of organizing the conference themed “Meet Ambassadors of the Middle East and Africa 2019” for the first time by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which attracted the participation of 300 delegates, including 44 heads of permanent and non-permanent diplomatic agencies and honorary consulates from Middle Eastern and African nations.

Phuc stressed the special relationship between Viet Nam and Middle Eastern and African countries and positive achievements in all spheres of politics, diplomacy, trade, investment, agriculture, education, science-technology, tourism and culture that have made contributions to the development of each side and peace, cooperation and development in Asia, Middle East and Africa. 

Viet Nam always attaches importance to and deepens the traditional friendship cooperative relations with other countries in the Middle East and Africa, he asserted, referring to the two-way trade value of US$22.5 billion between the nation with other partners in the Middle East and Africa in 2018, up 300% against in 2010. 

However, the potential cooperation between the two sides are huge, said the Vietnamese leader, suggesting Ambassadors and heads of delegations uphold their roles in boosting cooperation in the upcoming time. 

Viet Nam and Middle Eastern and African nations should promote solidarity and cooperation for sustainable development on the basis of partnership for mutual interests as well as advocate dialogues and tackle disputes through peaceful measures, respecting the international laws and basic principles of the United Nations Charters, said Phuc. 

He asked to focus on enhancing economic ties, especially potential areas such as trade, investment, agriculture, information technology and communications, energy, education-training, labor and tourism.    

Besides the bilateral cooperation between Viet Nam and countries in the Middle East and Africa, the PM proposed expanding cooperation in the regional and international aspects to create a synchronous coordination and cooperation mechanism, welcoming the upcoming signing ceremony of establishing a dialogue mechanism between the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf and Viet Nam. 

He required soon setting up the official relationship between Viet Nam and the African Union and expanding cooperation between Viet Nam and ASEAN with other regional and sub-regional organizations in the Middle East and Africa as well as encouraging and facilitating the private sector to join hands with the State and local authorities to participate in the process of accelerating cooperation between Viet Nam and Middle Eastern and African nations.     

In addition to mobilizing bilateral resources and the South-South Cooperation, Phuc expressed his hope that international and regional organizations and development agencies to coordinate with Viet Nam and countries in the Middle East and Africa to launch cooperative activities in tripartite and four-side models to share experience and resources for common development goals.  

It is necessary to uphold the active and leading roles of Ambassadors and diplomats of Viet Nam and nations in the Middle East and Africa in paving the way and promoting cooperation as well as their bridging roles in connecting the Governments and Middle Eastern and African people with the Vietnamese side, said PM Phuc. 

Djibouti’s Ambassador to Viet Nam Admed Araita Ali highlighted the meaning of the conference, congratulating Viet Nam on remarkable economic achievements over the recent years. 

The cooperation between the Middle Eastern and African nations and Viet Nam have manifested the importance of demands for expanding market amid the increasing protectionism trend, he said, suggesting Viet Nam take advantages of the current free trade areas with the Middle East and Africa to distribute its products effectively with low prices at these nations. 

By Thuy Dung