KUWAIT CITY, March 9: Ngo Tuan Tang, Vietnam’s ambassador to Kuwait, disclosed that approximately 1,000 Kuwaiti citizens visited Vietnam last year, attributing the surge to the streamlined visa process, which now takes only four days online without the need for embassy visits. Efforts are underway to expedite this process further, aiming for Kuwaitis to obtain electronic visas within a single day. Speaking at a press conference attended by accredited travel agencies and interested citizens, Ambassador Tang also revealed plans for an upcoming agreement between Vietnam Airlines and its Kuwaiti counterpart.

This agreement will enable direct flights to Vietnam via Bangkok at competitive prices, facilitating tourism exchange between the two countries. Highlighting the special significance of the current year, which marks the 48th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Kuwait, Ambassador Tang expressed optimism for further development in bilateral ties.

Economic cooperation between Vietnam and Kuwait has seen significant growth, with trade exchanges reaching approximately $6 billion last year. Notably, Kuwait’s imports of Vietnamese goods, including coffee, cashews, seafood, leather, furniture, and electrical appliances, contributed significantly to this figure. Ambassador Tang underscored the close parliamentary collaboration between the two nations, citing the recent hosting of Kuwaiti representatives in Vietnam’s “Younger Representatives” program as a testament to their robust bilateral ties.