Vietnam pushes stronger energy cooperation with Kuwait to bolster energy security

The Vietnamese leader made the proposal while receiving Kuwaiti Ambassador to Vietnam Yousef Ashour Al-Sabbagh in Hanoi on Saturday.

Energy security was a central focus of their talks, as global energy markets face growing uncertainties.

Amid complex developments in the Middle East, where a military conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran has escalated since February 28, Chinh expressed concern over potential disruptions to global economic and energy stability.

He reiterated Vietnam’s consistent stance that disputes should be resolved through peaceful dialogue in line with international law, and voiced hope for an early restoration of peace in the region, which he said would help stabilize the world’s energy supplies.

In that context, Chinh called for tighter coordination on energy security between Vietnam and Kuwait to tackle current challenges and ensure stable production and daily life.

He reaffirmed that Vietnam highly values its relationship with Kuwait, citing growing momentum following his phone talks with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah in early March.

He urged both sides to closely coordinate to implement agreed commitments, particularly to ensure the safety of Vietnamese citizens in Kuwait and carry out the 2026–30 action plan aimed at diversifying areas of cooperation.

On the economic front, Chinh said Vietnam is looking to broaden cooperation with Kuwait by accelerating negotiations on a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council, while enhancing business connectivity between the two countries.

PM Chinh also conveyed greetings from Party General Secretary To Lam and other senior Vietnamese leaders to Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the country’s leadership, and invited the Kuwaiti prime minister to visit Vietnam in 2026.

For his part, Ambassador Al-Sabbagh said Kuwait’s leaders highly appreciated PM Chinh’s official visit to Kuwait in November 2025, during which the two countries upgraded bilateral ties to a strategic partnership, marking a significant milestone in relations.

He noted that ministries and agencies from both sides are actively implementing the outcomes of the visit to further develop the partnership.

Al-Sabbagh affirmed that Kuwait remains committed to working closely with Vietnam to ensure energy security in the current global context.

The ambassador also said the Kuwaiti government is making efforts to provide necessary support for both local and foreign residents, including Vietnamese nationals.

He pledged to act as a bridge to encourage Kuwaiti energy corporations and investment funds to expand their presence in Vietnam, contributing to a more substantive, effective, and reliable strategic partnership between the two countries.