Viet Nam-Kuwait relations steadily advance to a new chapter: Ambassador

Vietnamese Ambassador to Kuwait Nguyen Duc Thang made this affirmation during his interview with Nhan Dan (People) Newspaper on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Viet Nam–Kuwait diplomatic relations (January 10, 1976 – 2026).

Notable achievements in 50 years of relations

Reviewing the achievements in bilateral relations over the past half-century, Ambassador Nguyen Duc Thang stressed that Viet Nam-Kuwait ties have witnessed many memorable milestones, evolving from humble beginnings into a profound, strategic relationship bolstered by shared values and friendship.

After Viet Nam’s reunification, the two nations established diplomatic relations on January 10, 1976, with Kuwait being the first country in the Gulf region to establish diplomatic ties with Viet Nam, thereby making a significant contribution to Viet Nam’s relations with Gulf countries in particular and Middle Eastern nations more broadly.

The diplomat noted that in June 1993, the Viet Nam Trade Representative Office was established in Kuwait, becoming Viet Nam's first trade representative office in the Gulf region, and 10 years later, bilateral cooperation was strengthened when Viet Nam officially opened its Embassy in Kuwait in October 2003.

On Kuwait's side, Prime Minister Nasser Al Mohammed Al Sabah paid an official visit to Viet Nam in May 2007 before Kuwait opened its Embassy in Ha Noi in August 2007 and its Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City in September 2007.

The Ambassador emphasised that since then, through the efforts of the leaders and peoples of the two countries, Viet Nam – Kuwait relations have been advanced across many fields with noteworthy results, particularly in economy-trade and investment.

Kuwait has become the leading trade and investment partner from the Middle East in Viet Nam, with two-way trade turnover reaching 7.3 billion USD in 2024 and nearly 7 billion USD in 2025, while also participating in the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Project with a total capital exceeding 9 billion USD, of which Kuwait contributed 3.5 billion USD.

The Ambassador pointed out that beyond achievements in politics-diplomacy and economy-trade-investment, the two countries have always stood shoulder to shoulder in difficult times.

In 1979, Kuwait was the first Gulf country to provide the largest concessional ODA capital to Viet Nam, especially in remote and mountainous areas, including the Dau Tieng Irrigation Project. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kuwait dontaed 600,000 vaccine doses to Viet Nam. These noble gestures demonstrate the depth of the friendly and cooperative relationship between the two countries.

The Ambassador stated that alongside this, numerous cooperation mechanisms and agreements have been signed in education-training, culture-arts, and agriculture.

Regarding education, Viet Nam has implemented Arabic language courses to provide high-quality human resources suitable not only for Kuwait but also for the Middle East, while Kuwait annually grants Arabic language scholarships to Viet Nam.

In recent years, despite a volatile global and regional context, investment commitments and trade exchanges have continued to increase thanks to the flexibility of Kuwaiti investment funds such as the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) and the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), supporting infrastructure projects and disaster recovery in Viet Nam.

The Ambassador particularly highlighted that during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to Kuwait in November 2025, the two countries elevated their relations to a Strategic Partnership, opening a new chapter in friendship and cooperation.

This demonstrates profound bonds in political trust, economic cooperation, education, and culture, and a commitment to mutual development, aiming towards a prosperous future and close collaboration on international forums.

Basis for advancing the strategic partnership

Ambassador Nguyen Duc Thang affirmed that the basis for the two countries to continue advancing their Strategic Partnership relations amid global volatility lies in their shared spirit of cherishing peace, aspiration for development, and mutual desire for close cooperation to achieve rapid and sustainable growth.

Viet Nam attaches great importance to promoting extensive cooperation with the Gulf region and the Middle East in general, particularly with Kuwait, a nation that after more than half a century of independence has risen to become a high-income country and a pillar member of OPEC with an important position in the region and the world.

Although each country has its own development path, the two nations share a common vision through sincere cooperation, equality, and mutual respect in the spirit of listening together, understanding together, trust, action, and development.

The Ambassador stressed that although each country has its own development path, the two nations share a common vision through sincere cooperation, equality, and mutual respect in the spirit of listening together, understanding together, trust, action, and development, while adhering to the United Nations Charter and international law to build a world of peace, stability, and sustainable development.

The Ambassador quoted President Ho Chi Minh as stating, “Mountains and rivers span thousands of miles as one family. For within the four seas we are all brothers,” and former Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's address at the United Nations that although nations differ in religion, culture, and ethnicity, they share aspirations, ambitions, and hopes, all yearning for a world of peace, security, and justice.

The Ambassador opined that these messages retain their full value in the current situation, reflecting the two countries' aspirations for love of peace, respect for justice, righteousness, compassion, and development for humanity.

Key cooperation fields and future development potential

Ambassador Nguyen Duc Thang clarified that trade and investment are current highlights in Viet Nam – Kuwait cooperation, with large oil imports from Kuwait ensuring supply for the Nghi Son plant, which provides over 35% of Viet Nam's domestic petrol and oil.

Meanwhile, Viet Nam's exports to Kuwait have become increasingly diverse and higher-value, including agricultural products, seafood, fruits, wood products, machinery, and electronics.

The two countries maintain other cooperation such as the Kuwait Fund supporting 182 million USD through 15 infrastructure projects across various provinces and cities in Viet Nam, locality-to-locality cooperation like Ho Chi Minh City with Ahmadi Province, Thanh Hoa Province with Farwaniya Province, and people-to-people interactions, with Kuwait granting Arabic scholarships to Vietnamese students since 2013.

The diplomat affirmed that besides the aforementioned traditional cooperation fields, Viet Nam and Kuwait have ample room to develop high-potential areas as follows:

First, oil and gas, as well as energy cooperation between the two countries, can explore new directions. Viet Nam is fully capable of becoming the largest oil storage and distribution centre in Southeast Asia. At the same time, amid the global shift towards renewable energy, Viet Nam and Kuwait have many opportunities to cooperate in developing green energy and clean energy, meeting each country's international goals and commitments.

The two countries can jointly research and invest in solar power, wind power, and green hydrogen projects — leveraging Kuwait's financial strengths and Viet Nam's production and technical capabilities.

Second, with a dynamic economy and attractive investment environment, Viet Nam desires to be a destination of greater interest to Kuwaiti investment funds. In the time ahead, the two countries can promote cooperation in major projects to establish new financial centres in the region.

Viet Nam can serve as a gateway for Kuwait to expand investments into Southeast Asia, while Kuwait acts as a strategic partner helping Viet Nam access the Middle East and neighbouring markets.

Third, Viet Nam ranks among the world's leading agricultural and aquatic product exporters, capable of ensuring food security by providing abundant, stable, long-term supplies meeting Halal standards for the Kuwaiti market.

Cooperation in this field will not only help Kuwait diversify food sources but also enable Viet Nam to develop Halal agricultural value chains, expanding markets to GCC countries and the entire Middle East region.

Fourth, Viet Nam and Kuwait have always maintained the tradition of mutual support and backing at international forums, including important mechanisms and committees at the United Nations where both are members.

Amid global volatility, coordination between Viet Nam and Kuwait in promoting multilateralism, peace, sustainable development, and active participation in humanitarian missions will contribute to elevating both nations' international roles.

Fifth, Viet Nam is increasingly becoming a favourite destination for international tourists, including Kuwaitis who regard travel as an essential part of life. Many Kuwaiti families and businesspeople have chosen Viet Nam for holidays, to explore nature, cuisine, and East Asian culture.

International tourist arrivals to Viet Nam in 2025 could exceed 22 million, up 20% from the same period last year, including contributions from tourists from Muslim countries.

In the future, the two countries can promote direct flights and organise more tourism promotion programmes.

Ambassador Nguyen Duc Thang concluded that over five decades, despite global upheavals, Viet Nam and Kuwait have consistently adhered to promote steadfast companionship, tight-knit bonds, profound trust, and practical actions for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries.

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