VOV now gives excerpts from the interview.
VOV: Could you brief us on the outcome of Mr Dung’s visit to the UAE?
Mr Trung: The visit by the high-level Vietnamese Government delegation was of great significance, for this was the first time a Vietnamese PM has visited the UAE since two countries established their diplomatic ties. It was also the first overseas trip in 2009 by the Vietnamese leaders.
The visit was successful, offering the two countries new prospects for effective cooperation.
First of all, PM Dung and his hosts discussed a wide range of issues and reached a common consensus about measures to expand bilateral cooperation in a deep and stable manner, particularly in key areas of finance, trade, energy, labour and agriculture.
Second, the two countries signed a number of agreements, including those on investment encouragement and promotion, double tax avoidance, the establishment of the Vietnam-UAE inter-governmental commission, and labour. They also signed cooperation agreements between their ministries of foreign affairs and the chambers of commerce and industry of Vietnam and Abu Dhabi. These agreements are expected to lay a firm legal foundation for providing new mechanisms of cooperation, aimed at promoting investment and business activity.
The two sides also encouraged their relevant ministries and sectors to early conduct negotiations and sign agreements on visa exemption for official and ordinary passport holders, tourism cooperation, tertiary education and scientific research in an effort to further strengthen long-term and effective cooperation.
Third, the two countries’ business communities met and signed a number of deals, including those to increase investment capital of the Ha Long Star project to US$550 million from US$220 million, raise sheep in Ninh Thuan province and invest in real estate in Ho Chi Minh City.
VOV: Could you elaborate on the future prospects for cooperation between the two countries, especially in the areas of their strength?
Mr Trung: The UAE is Vietnam’s important and priority partner in the Middle East. The two countries have developed good political and diplomatic ties which create an important prerequisite for boosting economic ties. Over the past years, bilateral cooperation has developed strongly with many big projects being carried out and two-way trade increasing considerably.
With their potential available, the two economies can support each other to make full use of their competitive capacity. Vietnam encourages the UAE to invest in big projects in the country. It has a great demand for importing crude oil, oil-based products, chemicals and fertilizers from the Middle East country. The UAE can be an importer and an important and ideal transit point for Vietnamese export staples such as farm products, food, garments, handicrafts and electronics appliances.
This March, a UAE Deputy Prime Minister will visit Vietnam to concritise the agreements signed during Mr Dung’s visit. This June, a delegation of UAE entrepreneurs will also visit Vietnam to detail the implementation of cooperation projects.
I believe that together with the reached agreements, initiatives put forward and efforts made by both sides, the economic, trade and investment ties between Vietnam and the UAE will grow and flourish in the coming time, especially in the areas of energy, oil and gas, finance, banking, infrastructure construction, real estate, transport, agriculture, labour and tourism. Such cooperation will bring practical benefit to the two countries, helping them to overcome the negative effects of the current global economic crisis as well as challenges arising from globalisation.
VOV: Thank you.