KUWAIT CITY, Sept 23: The Ambassador of the Republic of Vietnam to Kuwait, Nguyen Duc Thang, highlighted the special place Kuwait holds in Vietnamese history, as it was the first Gulf country to establish diplomatic ties with Vietnam in January 1976, shortly after the country’s reunification and victory in war. He said this during a reception held to mark the 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day, in the presence of Deputy Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister Minh Hung Nguyen, a number of ambassadors, diplomats, and members of the Vietnamese community in Kuwait. Ambassador Duc Thang said, “Kuwait was not only an early diplomatic partner but also a loyal friend who offered sincere support to Vietnam during its toughest times and continues to back us on our path toward development and peace.” He praised the Kuwaiti leadership’s unwavering support and enthusiasm for bilateral cooperation.

Ambassador Duc Thang explained that relations between Kuwait and Vietnam are thriving in various sectors. Last year’s trade volume reached USD 7.3 billion, which is the highest for Vietnam in the Middle East, with growing exports of seafood, fresh fruits, textiles, furniture, electronics, and machinery. Kuwait’s investment worth USD 4 billion in the joint Nghi Son Refinery project is a successful example of economic cooperation. The ambassador said, “Cultural, educational, and tourism cooperation continues to grow steadily, along with local partnerships such as those between Ahmadi Governorate and Ho Chi Minh City, and Farwaniya Governorate and Thanh Hoa Province.” He revealed that the fifth political consultations between the two countries, held Tuesday morning in Kuwait, resulted in an agreement to enhance cooperation in the fields of renewable energy, digital transformation, food security, agriculture, and fisheries. Ambassador Duc Thang discussed the possibility of launching a direct flight between Kuwait and Hanoi, which would strengthen exchanges between the two peoples and both the public and private sectors.

On the occasion of the national celebration, the ambassador expressed his pride in marking the 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day, recalling President Ho Chi Minh’s declaration of independence on September 2, 1945, and the subsequent journey of sacrifice to build a strong and prosperous nation. Ambassador Duc Thang highlighted that Vietnam is an active member of more than 70 international political, economic, and social organizations and plays an active role in UN peacekeeping missions. He emphasized that the country is globally admired for its stunning natural scenery, rich culture, and warm hospitality, adding, “In 2024, Vietnam welcomed 19 million tourists, and we expect that number to reach 25 million in 2025.” The ambassador said, “As Vietnam celebrates its 80th National Day, we continue progressing toward a brighter future. We are committed to working with Kuwait to enhance practical cooperation, strengthen bridges of communication between Southeast Asia and the Gulf, and contribute to peace and prosperity in both regions.” Regarding the economy, Ambassador Duc Thang emphasized that Vietnam has become a model of development and innovation, ranking 32nd globally with an annual growth rate of 6 to 7 percent since the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that the country aims to exceed 8 percent growth this year. He revealed that Vietnam is now among the world’s top 20 countries in trade and foreign direct investment, having signed 17 free trade agreements and over 500 international trade deals, adding that Vietnam is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Meanwhile, in a press statement issued on the sidelines of the celebration, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political and Diplomatic Affairs of Vietnam, Ambassador Nguyen Minh Hang, declared that she, along with senior officials from the Middle East Department of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held the fifth round of political consultations recently at the headquarters of Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the presence of Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs Ambassador Samih Hayat. Ambassador Hang expressed her government’s satisfaction with the distinguished historical relations between Kuwait and Vietnam, emphasizing that the consultations included open dialogue and frank discussions on various issues of mutual interest. She highlighted that the talks reflect the strong ties between the two countries and their shared desire to deepen bilateral cooperation. The Vietnamese official indicated that she and Ambassador Hayat discussed areas of cooperation in light of Kuwait’s current presidency of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). She revealed that the Vietnamese Prime Minister plans to make an official visit to Kuwait in mid-November, with coordination currently underway with Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, affirming that this visit will mark an important milestone in advancing bilateral relations to a new level of development and prosperity. Ambassador Hang explained that the political consultations between the two ministries yielded positive results, which will be reflected in the follow-up and expansion of cooperation between the two countries in the coming period. Both sides agreed to strengthen the bonds of historical friendship and expand areas of collaboration through practical and tangible measures, including consolidating political trust and enhancing mutual understanding.

She also emphasized that exchanging high-level visits will be a top priority in the coming phase, reflecting the commitment of the senior political leadership in both countries to elevating relations to new heights. Ambassador Hang went on to explain that the consultations covered a wide range of bilateral cooperation areas, including political coordination in international forums, economic, trade, and investment sectors, as well as collaboration in culture, higher education, scientific research, and civil aviation. They also discussed cooperation in oil, renewable energy, industry, food security, and health and medical services. In response to a question about the possibility of launching a direct air route between Kuwait and Vietnam, Ambassador Hang expressed hope that this would happen soon, emphasizing that such a step would strengthen humanitarian, cultural, and commercial ties between the two friendly countries and support efforts to expand cooperation in various fields. In addition, the Turkish Ambassador to Kuwait Tuba Sonmez described the recent recognition of the State of Palestine by several countries as a “positive and promising development”, emphasizing that it marks “an important step in the right direction.” She also expressed hope that all nations worldwide would follow suit in recognizing the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. In press statements issued on the sidelines of her participation in the Vietnamese ceremony, Ambassador Sonmez said, “We hope to see more actions from countries around the world, not only in terms of recognition but also by lifting sanctions and blockades, and halting the daily military operations in Gaza. We are tired of seeing images of Palestinian children in the news every day. Every step, no matter how small, is important”. She called on the international community, world leaders, and every conscientious individual to take practical stances to end the “humanitarian tragedy in Palestine”.

By Fares Ghaleb Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff