On the evening of November 16, during his official visit to Kuwait, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his spouse Le Thi Bich Tran, and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation met with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Kuwait.

At the meeting, Ambassador Nguyen Duc Thang briefed the Prime Minister on the Embassy’s operations, the state of bilateral relations, and the situation of the Vietnamese community. Although small in number, the Vietnamese community has been contributing positively to Kuwait’s socio-economic development including Vietnamese experts working long-term in Kuwait’s core oil and gas sector and with several major international energy corporations. The Embassy has maintained regular citizen protection and community engagement activities.

Representatives of the Vietnamese community expressed their honor to welcome the Prime Minister and his spouse. Nguyen Kim Long, a senior expert at the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), highlighted the vast potential for bilateral energy cooperation and noted the sharp rise in trade, with Vietnamese goods increasingly present in the Kuwaiti market.

Community members proposed greater access to online public services, a direct air route between Vietnam and Kuwait, simplified visa procedures, and enhanced promotion of Vietnamese culture, tourism, and Halal-certified products catering to Muslim consumers.

The Prime Minister conveyed warm greetings and sincere regards from Party General Secretary To Lam and the Party and State leaders to the Vietnamese community in Kuwait.

He emphasized the significance of his visit as Vietnam-Kuwait relations continue to flourish. After 50 years of diplomatic relations, the two countries maintain strong political trust, mutual support, and shared views on key international issues.

Kuwait has become Vietnam’s largest trade and investment partner in the GCC, with two-way trade in 2024 reaching USD 7.3 billion.

Providing updates on domestic developments, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highlighted Vietnam’s remarkable progress since the Doi moi (Renewal) reform, transforming the nation into the 32nd-largest economy in the world, with an average per capita income exceeding USD 5,000. The country’s Happiness Index rose 37 places between 2020 and 2025. Despite global uncertainties, Vietnam’s economy in 2025 achieved positive outcomes, meeting and exceeding all 15 key targets, with GDP growth of around 8%, substantial infrastructure investment, improved business environment, and expanding international integration.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed that the six million Vietnamese living abroad are an inseparable part of the nation, forming a vital source of strength in national development and defense. The Party and State always consider overseas Vietnamese “an integral part of the nation’s bloodline,” ensuring policies that safeguard their legitimate rights and facilitate housing, citizenship, and investment.

He also pledged to request the Kuwaiti side to continue creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to live, work, and act as a bridge for bilateral cooperation. He welcomed and acknowledged the community’s suggestions, including opening a direct air route to enhance tourism and people-to-people exchange.

Kuwait marks the first stop in Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official trip to three countries, Kuwait, Algeria, and South Africa. This is the first visit by a Vietnamese Prime Minister to Kuwait in 16 years, serving as a prelude to celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Kuwait diplomatic relations (January 10, 1976 - 2026).