Deputy Foreign Minister Vu Dung headed an inter-ministerial delegation to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Libya from April 29 to May 9, to boost cooperation in the fields of oil and gas, tourism, banking, construction, and labor, state media reported.
The trip was part of Vietnam’s policy promoting cooperation with African and Middle Eastern countries, traditional partners for Vietnam with the potential for cooperation in labor, investment, construction, and oil and gas.
Leaders of relevant ministries and sectors of these countries expressed willingness to invest in Vietnam in these areas, and to invite Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) to join their oil and gas exploration, exploitation and processing activities.
Besides labor export contracts with Qatar and Saudi Arabia signed during the visit, the Vietnamese delegation also reached framework agreements on labor cooperation. Libya, for example, wants to import thousands of workers from Vietnam.
Middle Eastern and North African countries also affirmed their close coordination with Vietnam in international forums and support for Vietnam’s candidacy for non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council’s 2008-2009 term.
They highly appreciated Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements over the past 20 years.
To boost mutual understanding between Vietnamese people and the people of these countries, they hope to exchange high-ranking visits and boost cultural, art and sport activities with Vietnam in the time to come.
During the trip, the Vietnamese delegation also called on Vietnamese workers in these countries.
At a national conference held last month in Hanoi, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem called on authorities, from central to grassroots level, to boost comprehensive cooperation with Africa and the Middle East.
Trade between Vietnam and Africa rose from $360 million in 2003 to $918.6 million in 2005 and $1 billion in 2006, while the figure between Vietnam and the Middle East increased to $1 billion in 2006 from $138 million in 2001. (Websites of Vietnamese Communist Party, Government)
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