Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade

Receiving the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed that the two sides soon complete negotiations on the Vietnam-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received UAE Minister of State for International Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)

On the afternoon of August 26, at the Government Headquarters, receiving Minister of State in charge of foreign trade of the Ministry of Economy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and leaders of 19 large corporations of the UAE, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested that the two sides soon complete negotiations on the Vietnam-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

Welcoming Minister of State Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and leaders of large UAE businesses in many fields such as logistics, energy, minerals, food, investment funds, finance, banking, etc. to visit Vietnam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated the efforts and progress that the two sides have made in negotiating the Vietnam-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), including the role of the Minister of State as Head of the UAE negotiating delegation.

Congratulating the UAE on its outstanding achievements in all fields, especially in the economy, affirming the correct direction of plans to diversify the UAE's economy, the Prime Minister said Vietnam wants to learn from the UAE's experience on this issue.

Sending regards to the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, and senior leaders of the UAE through the Secretary of State, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to the friendship and multifaceted cooperation with the UAE, one of Vietnam's leading economic partners in the Middle East.

The UAE Prime Minister and Minister of State were pleased with the positive development of the bilateral relationship in recent times with many substantive results, with the two sides regularly exchanging delegations at all levels.

Economic cooperation is strongly promoted with total bilateral trade turnover in the first 7 months of 2024 estimated at over 4 billion USD, an increase of 47% over the same period in 2023.

The two sides emphasized their determination to continue promoting comprehensive cooperation in all fields, especially promptly elevating bilateral relations and completing negotiations and signing the CEPA Agreement.

According to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, to further promote bilateral cooperation, the two sides need to increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially high-level ones; soon conclude negotiations, and aim to sign a balanced and mutually beneficial CEPA Agreement.

At the same time, facilitate and encourage businesses of the two countries to cooperate and invest; research and consider reducing tax rates on a number of goods to promote the complementary strengths of the two economies; and soon realize the goal of bringing bilateral trade turnover to 10 billion USD.

The two sides need to closely coordinate to implement the agreements reached; prepare well for the organization of the 6th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee in 2025; promote cooperation in energy, oil and gas; strengthen cooperation in developing the Halal food industry, promote the export of Halal products, agricultural and aquatic products, fresh vegetables, processed foods... of Vietnam to the UAE and the Middle East region; UAE supports the construction and development of the International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City; encourage UAE investment in other fields.

Believing that the two sides need to strengthen cooperation in labor, culture, sports, promote tourism, and people-to-people exchange by facilitating visas and opening direct flights, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that Vietnam will promote human resource training to meet the UAE's requirements.

Vietnam considers the UAE a gateway to enhance cooperation with the Middle East region and is ready to act as a bridge for the UAE to promote cooperation with ASEAN.

Thanking the Prime Minister for taking the time to receive the delegation, Minister of State Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi conveyed greetings and regards from the President, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh; congratulating him on the occasion of National Day and Vietnam's impressive and continuous development achievements over the past years.

Highly agreeing with the opinions to promote cooperation in the fields mentioned by the Prime Minister, the Minister of State informed Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh about the CEPA negotiation process; saying that the UAE ministries and agencies are actively working with Vietnamese agencies to implement the legal process to soon complete negotiations and sign this agreement.

UAE wants to increase cooperation with businesses to produce and process Halal food in Vietnam.

Minister of State Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said that the UAE will establish a Business Cooperation Council with Vietnam, with the hope of promoting Vietnam-UAE cooperation to become deeper, more practical and effective, especially in the fields of trade and investment./.

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