A meeting between ambassadors and diplomats from African and Middle Eastern countries and Vietnam’s policy makers and businesses kicked off in Hanoi on September 9.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Cuong speaks at the meeting 

The two-day conference is held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a view to bolstering ties between Vietnam and African and Middle Eastern countries and consolidating the bridging roles of the countries’ diplomatic missions in Vietnam.

 Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Cuong affirmed that Vietnam and countries from Africa and the Middle East supported each other during their fights for independence in the past and national development at present.

 With 200 cooperation documents already signed since 2010, trade between Vietnam and those in Africa and the Middle East has increased by three folds, from 5 billion USD in 2010 to 18 billion USD in 2018, he noted.

 The cooperation between Vietnam and countries from Africa and the Middle East has positively contributed to the countries’ socio-economic development, which make their people better off.

 However, the diplomat pointed out that the trade potential between Vietnam and African, Middle Eastern countries has yet to be fully tapped.

 Therefore, he voiced his expectation that the conference would be a forum for diplomats, policy makers, financial institutions, enterprises and local administrations from Vietnam, Africa and the Middle East to discuss measures to remove obstacles in trade ties among the countries.

 The event serves as a venue for the diplomatic missions of countries in Africa and the Middle East and relevant ministries, agencies and organisations of Vietnam to discuss measures to boost multi-faceted cooperation between Vietnam and African and Middle Eastern countries.

 The conference is scheduled to last through September 10.