Diesel engines are checked before being exported to the Middle East
Nhan Dan – Despite geographic distance, Vietnam and Middle East-North Africa (MENA) countries share long-standing traditional friendships and co-operative ties, which have brought remarkable developments despite the ups and downs of history.
Sharing aspirations for peace, freedom and development, the Vietnamese people and the people of MENA countries have closely supported each other in their past fights for national independence and the current era of national construction and development.
The two sides have maintained regular exchanges of delegations, particularly at high-ranking levels. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait and Qatar in 2009, and former State President Nguyen Minh Triet visited Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Algeria in 2010.
Vietnam has also received the prime ministers of Kuwait and Morocco in 2007 and 2008, respectively, the Palestinian president in 2010 and the sultan of Qatar and the Iranian president in 2012.
These visits have made important contributions to forming frameworks and promoting multi-faceted co-operation between Vietnam and MENA countries. Sound political ties have laid a firm foundation for bilateral relations in trade, investment and labour.
The MENA region, which possesses rich mineral resources and a population of over 520 million people, is an important export market for Vietnam. Trade turnover between Vietnam and the region totalled US$7.4 billion in 2012, an 878% increase over 2002. Annual trade turnover with certain partners has even exceeded US$1 billion.
MENA businesses have invested in large projects in Vietnam, including the Nghi Son Refinery and Petro-chemical Complex (Kuwait), the Long Son Petro-chemical Complex (Qatar), the Ha Long Star Hotel, the Hiep Phuoc Premier Container Terminal and the Zamil Pre-engineered Steel Factory (Saudi Arabia).
Several Vietnamese companies have also carried out investment projects in MENA countries. One notable example is PetroVietnam’s project of oil and gas exploration and extraction in Algeria.
In 1985, Vietnam sent over 1,000 workers and engineers and around 500 medical and education experts to Algeria. Currently, around 26,000 Vietnamese are working on infrastructure development projects in MENA countries.
Kuwait established the Arab Economic Development Fund to provide preferential loans to Vietnam. The loans encourage economic development in remote areas and the construction of transportation infrastructure. The fund has financed in whole or in part the Dau Tieng Irrigation Works in 1979, the Dau Tieng Agricultural Development Project in 1984 and the Van Dinh Flood Prevention Work in 1987.
Vietnam has signed many co-operative agreements with MENA countries, establishing 14 mechanisms of Inter-Governmental Co-operation and Joint Commission and 12 political consultation mechanisms with MENA ministries of foreign affairs.
Political and diplomatic relations between Vietnam and MENA countries have improved consistently, contributing to enhanced co-operative ties in economics, trade and investment.
The upcoming Vietnam-MENA Forum for Economic Co-operation on November 4-5 is expected to create opportunities for policy-makers and representatives of Vietnamese and MENA businesses to meet and discuss measures in order to improve co-operation and establish partnerships, which will promote multi-faceted co-operation between the two sides.
Đăng ký: VietNam News
