Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh (Photo: VNA)This is the first summit betweenASEAN and the GCC since they set up relations in 1990 and adopted a jointvision in 2009. The event is an important milestone in elevating the cooperationbetween the two regional organisations to a new height to meet both sides’demand.
Inthat context, relations between Vietnam and GCC member countries have beenflourishing. Their trade has reached 12.5 billion USD. Foreign directinvestment (FDI) from GCC countries in Vietnam currently stands at about 1billion USD.
Meanwhile,trade between Vietnam and Saudi Arabia topped 2.7 billion USD in 2022. A numberof big businesses from Saudi Arabia are implementing investment projects in theSoutheast Asian nation. About 4,000 - 5,000 Vietnamese people are working inthe GCC country.
However, much room remains for cooperationbetween Vietnam and GCC members, including Saudi Arabia.
PM Chinh’s visit to Saudi Arabia isof importance as it both reflects Vietnam’s determination to join other ASEANmembers in showing a new stature – independence, solidarity and development,and promotes the country’s political trust and cooperation with Saudi Arabia,thereby helping strengthen the ties between the two organisations of leadingimportance in Southeast Asia and the Persian Gulf, and enhance cooperation,political trust and cooperation between Vietnam and Saudi Arabia.
Thetrip is also a continuation of the implementation of the foreign policy identifiedat the 13th National Congress and the Party Central CommitteeSecretariat’s Directive No 25 on stepping up and elevating multilateral diplomacyby 2030. It aims to demonstrate Vietnam’s strong commitment and responsiblecontributions to enhancing friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation, andbuilding a peaceful and stable regional and international environment./.
VNA
