Vietnam established diplomaticties with South Sudan in February 2019, raising the total number of regionalcountries that have diplomatic ties with Vietnam to 69 out of 70.
Two-way trade neared 19 billionUSD in 2019, tripling that in 2008. Vietnam exported farm produce,pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, telecommunications, and finance-bankingservices to the region.
The country not only received over7 billion USD in foreign direct investment from the region but also investedmore than 2.6 billion USD there, mostly via Viettel’s telecom projects inseveral African nations.
Cooperation in agriculture,energy, transportation, labour and exchange of experts also improved.
With active, proactive and responsiblecontributions to dealing with global issues, Vietnam acquired almost absolutesupport from the Middle East – African countries during its run for anon-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021tenure.
During a recent meeting withambassadors from the Middle East and African countries, Minh said the potentialof collaboration between Vietnam and the region remains huge and diverse.
In its capacity as the Chair ofASEAN 2020 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the2020-2021 tenure, Vietnam could serve as a bridge to step up coordinationwithin ASEAN framework, deal with issues related to regional and global peaceand security, including those in the Middle East and Africa, he said.
On the back of opportunities fromthe fourth industrial revolution, similarities in development level andsupplementary economies, both sides hold great potential for stepping upcomprehensive cooperation, especially in fields of trade, investment, energy,environment, information technology and communications, agriculture, labour andtourism, he added.
Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Minh Khoi said the pasteconomic achievements will lay an important foundation for both sides to ensurefood security, reduce poverty, improve value chain, thus bringing directbenefits to the people and businesses in particular./.