Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and a high-ranking delegation departed for Saudi Arabia from Hanoi on Wednesday morning to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and visit the Southwestern Asian nation through Friday this week.

His three-day visit was made at the invitation of the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

His entourage includes Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung, Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung, Deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Duy Ngoc, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dong Hung Viet, and other top officials.

This is his first visit to Saudi Arabia since the prime minister took office in 2021.

His Saudi Arabia trip takes place while Vietnam is implementing the ‘Deepening ties between Vietnam and the Middle East – Africa in the 2016-25 period’ project.

This is the first time the high-ranking leaders of ASEAN and GCC have met together since they established ties in 1990. 

The summit will center around the performance of ASEAN - GCC cooperation over the past years, and key measures to foster bilateral ties in the future.

Besides, these leaders will discuss regional and international issues of mutual concern, and pass a joint statement.

As an ASEAN member, Vietnam actively and effectively contributes to deepening the ASEAN – GCC relationship.

In 2018, Vietnam acted as the coordinator of the ASEAN –GCC partnership, and co-organized the Foreign Ministers' Meeting of ASEAN-GCC on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Vietnam and Saudi Arabia set up their diplomatic ties on October 21, 1999.

The two nations often exchange all-level delegations, and support each other at international forums.

Two-way trade totaled more than US$2.7 billion in 2022, up 32.4 percent against 2021.

Vietnam mainly exports mobile phones and phone parts, apparel products, wood and woodwork, cashew, rice, machines and tools to Saudi Arabia, while buying plastic materials and chemicals from the latter.

Several Saudi Arabian enterprises are engaging in multiple projects in Vietnam, including Zamil Steel and Sabic.

Furthermore, the Saudi Fund for Development has been offering preferential loans to 13 projects valued at over $181 million in Vietnam.

Some 4,000 – 5,000 Vietnamese are working in Saudi Arabia. 

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