Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Ministerand Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on September 9 highlighted the deepeningdiplomatic ties between Vietnam and the Middle East and African countries, aswell as progress made in their collaboration in other spheres like trade,telecommunications, labour, education and health care.

Addressing a session on economic cooperation within the conference themed “Meetambassadors from the Middle East and Africa” in Hanoi, the official saidcooperation models between Vietnam and some African nations, especially in therealm of agriculture, have been seen as those of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)cooperation.

He stressed Vietnam’s capacity to meet high and diverse demands of the MiddleEast and African countries, particularly after the country assumes the posts ofthe ASEAN’s rotary chair in 2020 and a non-permanent member of the UN SecurityCouncil for 2020-2021.

Vietnam can work as a bridge promoting cooperation in the areas of sharedconcern within the ASEAN framework and join hands in addressing issuesregarding regional and global peace and security, including those in the MiddleEast and Africa, he said.

The Southeast Asian nation and the Middle East and African countries share thedesire for peace, towards the 2030 UN Agenda, and similarities in thedevelopment level, he said, adding that their economies are highly reciprocal.

The two sides boast advantages to step up their comprehensive cooperation,especially in such areas as trade, investment, energy, environment, ICT,agriculture, labour and tourism, Minh stressed.

The official urged the delegates to look into major cooperation orientations,focusing on economic collaboration which should be a lever of political tiesbetween Vietnam and these countries.

He also suggested the ambassadors and charge d’affaires discuss in detail withVietnamese partners, especially representatives of businesses, to identifypotential and feasible areas of cooperation, saying Vietnam has strength inagriculture, fishery, electronics, farm equipment mechanics, constructionmaterials, timber products, agricultural production and processing, ICT andyoung skilled labourers.

Vietnam stands ready to support the Middle East and African nations invocational training and seeking digital solutions in service of agriculturaldevelopment, he said. 


Minh called on the sides to renew their cooperation mindsets and methods to adaptto requirements of the new situation, and mobilise the participation of notonly the State but also the private sector, the business circle, the public anddevelopment partners outside the regions in this regard.

It is necessary to intensify connectivity and promote the role of the networkof ambassadors and representatives of the Middle East and Africa inaccelerating cooperation programmes and plans, he said.

Apart from bilateral channels, the two sides should enhance coordination atmultilateral forums like the UN and the NAM, thus promoting connectivitybetween Vietnam and the African Union, as well as between the MiddleEast-African nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), hesuggested. -VNA