Vietnam treasures friendship, multifaceted ties with Saudi Arabia: Deputy PM
Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai received visiting Saudi Arabian Minister of Tourism Ahmed bin Aqeel-Khateeb in Hanoi on August 28, affirming that Vietnam attaches importance to the enhancement of the friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Saudi Arabia, an important partner in the Middle East.
Deputy PM Le Minh Khai (R) meets with Saudi Arabian Minister of Tourism Ahmed bin Aqeel-Khateeb in Hanoi on August 28. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy PrimeMinister Le Minh Khai received visiting Saudi Arabian Minister of Tourism Ahmedbin Aqeel-Khateeb in Hanoi on August 28, affirming that Vietnam attachesimportance to the enhancement of the friendship and multifaceted cooperationwith Saudi Arabia, an important partner in the Middle East.
As the two countries will celebratethe 25th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2024, Khai askedboth sides to coordinate in holding various activities on that occasion, especiallypromoting tourism and cultural exchanges to help improve mutual understandingbetween the two peoples.
Applauding progress in bilateralcooperation, he expressed his hope that Vietnam will expand connections withnot only Saudi Arabia but also others in the Arab and Muslim communities.
Saudi Arabia is one of Vietnam’s leading economic partners in the Middle East,with bilateral trade surging 32.4% year on year to 2.7 billion USD in 2022, hesaid, noting that he hopes investment links between the two sides, including ingreen energy development, will grow more fruitfully in the coming time.
The official called on Saudi Arabiato help Vietnam develop the Halal industry and access the Halal goods andservice markets in Saudi Arabia and other Islamic countries through production investment,manpower training, and experience sharing.
He also suggested the Middle Eastern nation to import more products of Vietnam's strength such as rice, tea, peppercorn, coffee, rubber, and apparel.
Talking about the Saudi Fund forDevelopment (SFD), the host proposed Ahmed bin Aqeel-Khateeb, who is also SFD Chairman,keep supporting Vietnam’s cooperation with the fund so as to promote thecontinued provision of concessional loans for social security projects in theSoutheast Asian country.
The meeting between Deputy PM Le Minh Khai and Saudi Arabian Minister of Tourism Ahmed bin Aqeel-Khateeb in Hanoi on August 28. (Photo: VNA)
Since the Saudi Arabian ministeralso serves as head of the Executive Council of the UN World Tourism Organisation(UNWTO), Khai thanked the organisation for assisting Vietnam with tourism planning and tourismproduct development. He asked his guest as the UNWTO leader to promote thisorganisation’s support for and coordination with Vietnam to hold major UNWTOevents here.
The Deputy PM also called on SaudiArabia to help Vietnam develop tourism infrastructure and the products thatArabian people have demand for to boost tourism connectivity between the twocountries.
Congratulating Vietnam on the coming National Day (September 2), Ahmed binAqeel-Khateeb highlighted the two countries’ cooperation results for the lastover 20 years.
He said he hopes Vietnam and SaudiArabia will press on with partnerships in such fields as energy (petrochemistryand green energy), investment, manufacturing, culture, the Halal industry,tourism, and sports.
The minister affirmed that SaudiArabia will do its utmost to assist Vietnamese businesses to make investment inthe country and others in the Middle East./.
Based on the fine traditional relationship in the past, this is the right time to bring Vietnam's relations with Arab countries to a new height and in a more substantial and extensive manner, said Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Vietnam Mohammed Ismaeil A. Dahlwy on March 13.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Vietnam Mohammed Ismaeil A. Dahlwy in Hanoi on March 29, highly valuing his guest’s activeness in helping strengthen friendship and cooperation.
The Saudi Arabian Embassy in Vietnam, together with the embassies of Egypt, Palestine, Algeria, Morocco, Indonesia, Pakistan, Brunei, Iran, and Bangladesh marked the Eid al-Fitr, one of two major holidays celebrated by Muslims worldwide, with an event in Hanoi on April 23.
Winners of the ‘Green Journey for A Green Future’ competition were awarded at a ceremony held in Hanoi on June 6 by the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Hanoi's Tay Ho district.
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia held an event to introduce the art of Al-Qatt Al-Asiri – a traditional interior wall decoration of Saudi Arabia, in Hanoi on August 22.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Deputy PM Le Minh Khai (R) meets with Saudi Arabian Minister of Tourism Ahmed bin Aqeel-Khateeb in Hanoi on August 28. (Photo: VNA) 
The meeting between Deputy PM Le Minh Khai and Saudi Arabian Minister of Tourism Ahmed bin Aqeel-Khateeb in Hanoi on August 28. (Photo: VNA) 
