PM Dung highlighted recent progress made in bilateral relations, especially in trade and investment, after expressing thanks to the Qatari Government and people for their assistance in the past and at present.
“Both should work close together to translate their own great potential into reality in the interest of the two nations,” emphasised Mr Dung.
The Qatari PM warmly welcomed Vietnam ’s recent decision to open a diplomatic office in Doha and said his Government will also open a diplomatic office in Hanoi soon.
The two Government leaders devised concrete measures to boost bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues of mutual interest.
They agree to further exchange visits at all levels as a foundation for facilitating cooperation, especially in investment, oil and gas, labour and trade. They pledged to create favourable conditions for their businesses to promote trade and secure a foothold in the other’s markets.
They also agreed to give the best possible conditions for Qatari businesses to invest in Vietnam.
Such cooperation is necessary to benefit vested interest, development and stability in individual countries, they emphasised.
Following the talks, the two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Qatari Investment Fund and the State Capital Investment Corporation of Vietnam.
On the occasion, Prime Minister Jabir al-Thani invited PM Dung to visit Qatar.
Newspapers highlights Qatari PM’s visit to Vietnam
All main Vietnamese dailies said on April 2 that the visit to Vietnam by Qatari Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jasim bin Jabor al-Thani will constitute a driving force behind the development of relations between the two countries.
Nhan dan (People) and Quan doi Nhan dan (People’s Army) newspapers said the Qatar PM’s visit to Vietnam at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung takes place at a time when the two countries are celebrating the 15th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.
Vietnam and Qatar established their diplomatic ties on February 8, 1993. Over recent years, the two countries have regularly exchanged visits by delegations at deputy prime ministerial and ministerial levels.
In January 2007, the then Deputy PM-cum-Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jasim bin Jabor al-Thani paid an official visit to Vietnam and since then, the Qatar Government has taken specific steps to boost cooperation with Vietnam.
These included the opening of the Qatar state bank’s branch in Ho Chi Minh City and the launch of Qatar Airways’ route from Doha to Ho Chi Minh City.
In March 2008, Vietnam appointed an ambassador to Qatar to substitute the ambassador in Kuwait who was also in charge of Qatar.
Two-way trade turnover stood at modest level of US$30 million last year.
However, Qatar is a promising labour market for Vietnam, employing around 10,000 Vietnamese guest workers currently. In January, the two sides signed an agreement on labour cooperation, paving the way for a new stepforward in the field.
The Qatar Government has licensed its businesses to employ an additional 25,000 Vietnamese guest workers and to bring the total number of workers from the Southeast Asian country to 100,000 in the next three years.
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