State President Nguyen Minh Triet in Hanoi on November 24 received the UAE Minister of Economy, Sultan bin Saeed al-Mansouri, who is on-going visit to Vietnam to attend the first meeting of the joint commission for bilateral co-operation between the two governments.

Mr Triet affirmed Vietnam highly valued the UAE’s role in the world and plans to expand co-operation with other countries, including the UAE which possess great financial potential.

He pointed out Vietnam has abundant human resources which can meet the increasing demand for foreign investors. The UAE’s strengths, such as infrastructure building, energy, industry and services, match Vietnam’s requirements for development. Similarly, Mr Triet said Vietnam was willing to help UAE ensure food security, therefore, the two countries should step up exchange visits to seek cooperation and investment opportunities.

Minister Mansouri said the UAE has strengthened investments in Vietnam in industry, infrastructure building, services, energy, seaport buildings, airports and human resources. One important field that the UAE wants to boost co-operation in with Vietnam is agriculture because the UAE faces difficulties in agricultural land. Minister Mansouri added that the UAE was willing to offer scholarships to Vietnamese students.