HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang held a round of official talks at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi yesterday afternoon.

They reviewed joint co-operation and ways to cement them in several fields, the latest regional and international developments and other issues of common concern.

The talks were attended by members of the official delegation accompanying HH the Emir.

The Emir and President Sang later witnessed the signing of a set of agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between the two countries.

MoUs were signed by the two countries’ central banks, by Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company and M & C Company, by Qatar Holding and Vietnam State Capital Investment Corporation and on co-operation in education, higher education and scientific research.

The two sides also signed an agreement for investment on the Long Son project for Petrochemical in Vietnam with each of the Petrovietnam company and SCG Chemicals Company of Thailand.

Earlier, HH the Emir held talks with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. They discussed bilateral relations and ways to develop them in addition to other issues of mutual interest. Members of the delegation accompanying the Emir attended the meeting.

HH the Emir also met Vietnamese National Assembly chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung. Relations between the two countries and ways to enhance them in various fields were taken up.

The Emir arrived in Hanoi for a two-day state visit to Vietnam after concluding a trip to Sri Lanka.

The Emir and the accompanying delegation were welcomed upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport by Vietnamese Presidency Affairs chief Ngowin Ven Geyan along with a number of senior officials, Qatar’s ambassador to Vietnam, Mohamad Jaber Abdullah as-Sulaiti, and Vietnamese ambassador to Qatar, Li Hong Van.

Upon his arrival, the Emir headed to the Presidential Palace where President Sang and a number of ministers and top officials welcomed him. A red -carpet reception ceremony was accorded to the Emir.

Upon his arrival, the Emir gave a statement in which he voiced pleasure and expressed “in his name and on behalf of the people and Qatar government, sincere greetings and best wishes of progress, welfare and prosperity to the government and people of the friendly Socialist Republic of Vietnam”.

The statement said: “It gives me pleasure to visit Vietnam in reply to the kind invitation of President Truong Tan Sang, and meet with him and   senior Vietnamese officials to discuss ties of joint co-operation and hold consultations on regional and international issues of common interest.

“I’m confident that these meetings would give us a great opportunity to promote bonds of friendship and develop co-operation between the two countries in all fields to the welfare and interest of our people.”

HH the Emir last night attended a dinner banquet hosted by President Sang.

Source Gulf Times