Viet Nam expects early signing of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with UAE

The Prime Minister made the call during his reception for United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Ha Noi on Monday.

Pham welcomed the visit of the UAE's official who were accompanied by leaders of 19 major UAE corporations, adding that the visit will create a chance for both sides to seek for further cooperation opportunities in areas of mutual interests.

Viet Nam attaches importance to the friendship and multifaceted relations with the UAE, one of Viet Nam's top economic partners in the Middle East, Pham emphasized.

The Prime Minister suggested that the two sides increase all-level delegation exchanges, especially high-level and encourage their businesses to increase investment.

The Vietnamese leader urged the UAE to consider reducing tariffs on several commodities in a bid to realize the two sides' goal of raising the bilateral trade value to US$10 billion.

The two nations should work closely to realize signed agreements and make preparations for the organization of the 6^th meeting of the Viet Nam-UAE Inter-Governmental Committee in 2025, Pham suggested.

Pham called on the UAE to support the establishment and development of the International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City.

He also recommended that both sides bolster stronger ties in labor, culture, and sports (including the establishment of youth football training centers in Viet Nam), tourism, and people-to-people exchanges with favorable visa policy and opening more direct flights.

Viet Nam considers the UAE as a gateway to enhance cooperation with the Middle East region, he noted, adding that the Southeast Asian country stands ready to help the UAE to step up cooperation with ASEAN.

Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, for his part, affirmed that UAE ministries and agencies are actively working with Vietnamese counterparts to finalize and sign the CEPA.

The UAE expects to strengthen collaboration with Vietnamese firms in Halal food production, he said, adding that the UAE plans to establish a council of business cooperation with Viet Nam to deepen and improve the effectiveness of Viet Nam-UAE cooperation, remarkably in trade and investment.

In the first seven months of this year, the two-way trade reached nearly US$4 billion, a year-on-year increase of 47 percent./.