Mr Dung made the statement at a reception in Hanoi on May 23 for Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah who began an official visit to Vietnam the same day. Mr Dung welcomed his Kuwaiti counterpart’s visit and valued his decision to select Vietnam as the first stop over in his Asian tour.

“This is a good chance for the two governments to further strengthen the relations of friendship and comprehensive cooperation,” said Mr Dung.

The Kuwaiti Prime Minister expressed his happiness at visiting Vietnam and noted that Vietnam and Kuwait supported each other in difficult periods in the past and established the multifaceted cooperation model in recent years.

“We should foster the friendship and multifaceted cooperation for the common interests of the two nations,” said the Kuwaiti leader.

He said his visit aims to explore investment opportunities in Vietnam, particularly in oil and gas exploitation – one of Kuwait’s strengths. He added that Kuwait oil companies want to expand cooperation and investment in other fields such as insurance, financial and telecommunications services not only in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, but also in other cities and provinces.

He assured Mr Dung that Kuwaiti businesses want to cooperate with Vietnam in aviation transportation and create favourable conditions for Vietnamese investors, engineers and workers to engage in four big infrastructure construction projects in his country costing up to US$480 billion.

The Kuwaiti PM also expressed his willingness to help Vietnam strengthen cooperative ties with countries in the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council. 

The Vietnamese PM appreciated his guest’s proposals, and said the two countries should boost cooperation in economics, trade and investment as bilateral trade exchanges remain too low. He asked Kuwait to support and help Vietnam strengthen cooperation with countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council. He welcomed the two countries’ plans to increase exchange of high-level visits and Kuwait’s decision to open its Embassy in Hanoi to strengthen cooperation and promote mutual understanding.

The two PMs agreed to undertake trade and investment promotion activities, including the organisation of joint business forums and trade exhibitions and fairs in their respective countries to create chances for their business circles.

They also agreed to conduct negotiations of a labour cooperation agreement to be signed very soon.

The Vietnamese Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam will send its engineers and workers to Kuwait to engage in big construction projects. 

The Kuwaiti PM invited Mr Dung to visit his country and the invitation was accepted with pleasure. The visit will be arranged through diplomatic channels.

 

Shortly after the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing of a protocol on the establishment of the Vietnam-Kuwait Joint Committee for economic, scientific and technological cooperation, an agreement on investment promotion and protection, and a cooperation agreement between the two countries’ Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

 

In the afternoon, State President Nguyen Minh Triet received the Kuwaiti Prime Minister who conveyed the Kuwaiti King’s invitation to Mr Triet to visit his country.

Mr Triet thanked the King and affirmed that Vietnam wants to strength the relations of friendship and all-round cooperation with Kuwait. He also thanked Kuwait’s support for Vietnam’s bid to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in the 2008-2009 term.

The Kuwaiti leader briefed Mr Triet on Kuwait’s decision to open its Embassy in Hanoi in the next two months and General Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City soon. In addition, representatives of the three Kuwaiti airlines carriers will arrive in Hanoi next week to discuss the opening of air routes between the two countries with the Vietnam Aviation Corporation.

The Kuwaiti leader said his country has decided not to limit the number of Vietnamese citizens who want to reside in Kuwait and welcome Vietnamese guest workers to work in all areas in the country.

Mr Triet welcomed his guest’s goodwill and proposals and conveyed his invitation to the Kuwaiti King to visit Vietnam.

Later the Kuwaiti met with Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Phu Trong.

In the evening, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung held a banquet in honour of Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.