Prime Minister hosts reception for Ambassadors from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar

Pham extended the best wishes to the royal families, governments and people of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar on the occasion of the New Year, expressing his belief that the three Middle East countries would continue to gain greater development achievements in the future.

He spoke highly of the assistance and cooperation from the Ambassadors and staffs at the Embassies of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, which contributed to the success of his visits to the three Middle East countries.

Pham said he has visited the UAE and Saudi Arabia over the last two years and became the first head of the Vietnamese Government to visit Qatar over the past 15 years.

During the visits, he said he felt moved with the warm hospitality that the leaders and people of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar offered to him and his entourages and impressed by the miraculous development and great achievements there.

The recent visits to the three countries indicated Viet Nam's strong determination to boost bilateral cooperation in an increasingly substantial and effective manner for the common benefits of the relevant sides.

Right after the visits, Pham said he sent letters to the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, announcing that he had assigned the Minister of Planning and Investment to be the focal point of the Vietnamese side to deploy and concretize the cooperation contents between the Government of Viet Nam and the Governments of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar.

The Minister of Planning and Investment has also be assigned to send a list of priority projects to the three Middle East countries, said Pham.

He tasked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be in charge of negotiating and signing visa exemption agreements with the three Middle East countries.

Pham also assigned the Ministry of Industry and Trade to mull over a free trade agreement or a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The Government chief urged the Ambassadors to coordinate closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant ministries and agencies of Viet Nam in actively promote the realization of the commitments and goals reached during his visits.

Pham expressed his wish to soon upgrade relations with Qatar and Saudi Arabia to a Comprehensive Partnership level.

He called on the Middle East countries to work together with Viet Nam to consider the establishment of working groups to promote the implementation of high-level agreements in the fields of economy, trade and investment; to assist Viet Nam in building international financial centers in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang City; and to promote cooperation in defense and security, labor, tourism, culture and education.

Prime Minister Pham called for continued collaboration and mutual support over regional and international issues at international forums, especially the United Nations.

He also expressed his wish that these Middle East countries would help Viet Nam to boost cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)./.