UAE pledges maximum support for Vietnam’s energy needs

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh spoke with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan about regional developments and measures to strengthen Vietnam-UAE relations.

Sharing concerns about the hardships facing people in the region amid the current conflict, the Prime Minister expressed hope that the UAE and relevant parties would continue exercising restraint, avoid escalating tensions and promote dialogue and negotiations to end the conflict and achieve peaceful solutions based on international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

Vietnam stands ready to coordinate with the UAE and countries in the region to promote peaceful solutions to the conflict.

Affirming that Vietnam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh are close friends, President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed thanked the Vietnamese leader for the call and appreciated Vietnam’s readiness to contribute responsibly to resolving issues in the Middle East.

The UAE president emphasized his desire to strengthen relations with Vietnam and expressed readiness to work together to further consolidate bilateral ties. He also suggested that leaders of both countries increase exchanges and expand connections and interactions at different levels.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh thanked the UAE government and asked it to support and ensure the safety and security of Vietnamese citizens in the UAE while facilitating evacuation or transit through the country if necessary.

President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed affirmed that the UAE would make every effort to ensure safety and would be ready to arrange for Vietnamese citizens to return home whenever needed.

Expressing concern about the impact of the conflict on energy security, the two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in ensuring stable energy supplies. Emphasizing the importance the UAE attaches to relations with Vietnam, the UAE president said his country would provide maximum support for Vietnam’s immediate and long-term energy needs.

The two leaders designated focal points to coordinate and immediately implement the commitments and agreements reached by the two governments.

They also discussed various measures to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in areas aligned with the interests and strengths of both sides, such as financial investment in the international financial center in Vietnam.

Vietnam and the UAE aim to promote key investment projects in high technology, infrastructure and logistics while accelerating negotiations on a Vietnam-GCC free trade agreement, with the goal of achieving bilateral trade of US$10 billion.

Qatar ready to cooperate to help stabilize Vietnam’s energy supply

Also on the evening of March 9, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a phone call with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jasim Al-Thani.

Expressing deep concern over developments in the Middle East conflict, the Vietnamese Prime Minister shared the difficulties and challenges facing people in the region.

He praised Qatar’s mediation efforts aimed at peacefully resolving disputes and conflicts in the Middle East and called on Qatar and other parties to exercise restraint and prevent further escalation.

Vietnam opposes acts of force against sovereign states, particularly attacks on civilian infrastructure that result in civilian casualties.

The Prime Minister called for peaceful solutions based on respect for international law and the UN Charter while ensuring the legitimate rights and interests of all parties. He reaffirmed that Vietnam is ready to participate in joint international efforts, including those of ASEAN, to seek peaceful solutions to the ongoing conflict.

Amid the increasingly complex conflict situation, the Prime Minister thanked the government of Qatar and asked it to continue ensuring safety and security for Vietnamese citizens in the country while facilitating transit for Vietnamese nationals when needed.

Qatar’s Prime Minister affirmed that the country would ensure the safety and security of Vietnamese citizens “as it would for the people of Qatar.”

Regarding energy cooperation under the current circumstances, the Qatari leader affirmed that Qatar is making every effort to fulfill all commitments and contracts with its partners and stands ready to cooperate closely to help ensure energy stability in Vietnam.

Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jasim Al-Thani also emphasized that Qatar highly values its relationship with Vietnam and hopes to expand cooperation across various sectors.

The two leaders agreed to promote measures to improve cooperation between the two countries, particularly in investment, trade, energy transition, financial investment in the international financial center in Vietnam, accelerating negotiations for a Vietnam-GCC free trade agreement, digital transformation and the development of the Halal industry.

Earlier, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also held a phone call with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

Tran Thuong