Vietnam views Saudi Arabia as a strategic partner in trade, investment and foreign affairs, said Vietnam’s Ambassador, Tran Ngueyen Tuyen, on the occasion of his country’s 68th National Day on Tuesday night.

Ambassador Tuyen spoke candidly of Saudi Arabia’s initiatives for interfaith dialogue and other humanitarian activity for promoting international peace and stability.

He said that around 15,000 Vietnamese nationals are currently working in Saudi Arabia.

He said, “Many people here may have limited knowledge on our country. Our embassy is working hard to strengthen relations in all areas of cooperation.”

Saudi-Vietnamese diplomatic relations were established in 1999. The two countries signed a general agreement on cooperation in economics, trade, investment and technology on May 25, 2006.

Saudi Arabia remains Vietnam’s biggest West Asian trade partner, with trade turnover reaching $1.5 billion (SR5.6 billion) in 2013. The Kingdom also grants Vietnam a soft loan of $50 million (SR187.5 million) every year.

Vietnam’s main exports to Saudi Arabia are seafood, tea, coffee, pepper, cashew nuts, rice textiles, garments and wood products. The country imports plastic material, liquefied gas, chemicals and related products, fertilizers and animal feed.

“Vietnam’s multi-faceted cooperation with Saudi Arabia is focused in the oil and gas, agriculture, investment, trade and labor industries, as its foreign policy priorities lie in the Middle East,” the ambassador said.

In 2000, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam signed an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of tax evasion with respect to income tax.

“The Saudi-Vietnamese cooperative relationship has been promoted, but it is not on par with these countries potential,” said a report issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vietnam in 2011. Both countries must exert greater efforts to realize their potential, the report added.

This was stated during the first session held between the two countries' joint committee on economic, scientific and technological cooperation in Vietnam in 2011, which was attended by high-ranking officials of both countries

The two countries negotiated agreements on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders and discussed protecting and encouraging investment and air transportation.

Vietnam's Deputy Chief of Mission, Le Quang Vinh, told Arab News that his country issues visas to Saudi diplomats free of charge if the official’s application is backed by a letter from the Saudi Foreign Affairs. Saudi officials visiting the country for business or conferences can also obtain visas free of charge if their visit serves the interest of two countries.

Deputy Riyadh Governor, Prince Turki bin Abdullah, and various foreign diplomats from Vietnam-friendly countries were among the attendees at the Vietnamese National Day celebration.