Minister of Foreign Affairs receives outgoing Saudi Arabian ambassador

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung on December 31 received outgoing Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Vietnam Mohammed Ismaeil A. Dahlwy, reaffirming that Vietnam highly evaluates Saudi Arabia’s role and stature in the region and the world.

The Vietnamese FM stated that Vietnam stands ready to enhance coordination with Saudi Arabia at regional and international forums, particularly within frameworks such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Vietnam is willing to work with Saudi Arabia to make responsible contributions to shared issues for the benefit of both nations' people, and for peace and stability in the two regions and the world, Trung said.

He recalled the commitments made by key leaders of the two countries to further strengthen high-level and all-level exchanges, study the early upgrading of bilateral ties to a new framework commensurate with the two countries’ positions and potential, continue improving legal frameworks, create favourable conditions for cooperation, and promote large-scale, key Saudi investment projects in Vietnam.

Trung hailed Dahlwy’s contributions to advancing Vietnam-Saudi Arabia relations, particularly following Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visits to Saudi Arabia in 2023 and 2024.

The minister noted the ambassador’s active role in organising a series of meaningful events marking the 25th anniversary of Vietnam–Saudi Arabia diplomatic relations (1999–2024), promoting the establishment of the Saudi Arabia–Vietnam Business Council, and facilitating visits by Saudi ministries, agencies and business delegations to Vietnam, thereby helping to promote Saudi Arabia’s image and cooperation opportunities among the Vietnamese people.

For his part, Dahlwy expressed his sincere thanks to Vietnamese leaders and relevant agencies for their strong support, which enabled him to fulfil his duties successfully.

He stressed that the King, the Crown Prince and senior leaders of Saudi Arabia attach great importance to and wish to further deepen the friendship and cooperation between the two countries on a sustainable basis.

The diplomatic showed admiration for Vietnam’s foreign policy, noting that the two countries share many similarities in their development goals.

He reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s support for Vietnam in strengthening cooperation with the GCC and pledged to continue promoting negotiations toward the early conclusion of a Vietnam–GCC free trade agreement.

The diplomat also highlighted the close coordination between the two sides at multilateral forums, and praised Vietnam’s role in promoting peace and stability in the region and the country’s contributions to the international community's common affairs.

He pledged that in his future role, he will continue to work closely with relevant Saudi Arabian agencies to advance the bilateral relations in a more substantive and effective manner, commensurate with the potential and strengths of both countries./.