Vietnam is making strides to enhance its trade and investment relations with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Egypt, focusing on expanding market access and forging stronger economic partnerships. Vietnamese Vice President Võ Thị Ánh Xuân emphasized the importance of leveraging the Vietnam-EAEU Free Trade Agreement to boost bilateral trade and investment. She also suggested exploring potential upgrades to the agreement and urged the EAEU to resolve trade barriers impacting Vietnamese exports, including textiles, footwear, and rice.
In discussions with EAEU officials, both parties addressed the need for better coordination of trade data, increased frequency of joint committee meetings, and the expanded use of electronic certificates of origin. The EAEU representatives noted the near doubling of bilateral trade and pointed to further opportunities for growth. These efforts are part of Vietnam’s broader strategy to strengthen its economic and diplomatic connections with regional partners.
In a separate meeting, Xuân engaged with Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Hussein Mohamed Ahmed Eissa, advocating for intensified high-level exchanges and deeper economic collaboration between Vietnam and Egypt. She highlighted the potential for a Vietnam-Egypt free trade agreement and identified several sectors ripe for enhanced cooperation, such as agriculture, infrastructure, tourism, digital transformation, education, and renewable energy.
The meetings took place in Bishkek during Vietnam’s participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Plus Summit. This summit serves as a platform for Hanoi to bolster its economic and diplomatic ties with various regional partners, underscoring its commitment to expanding its influence and partnerships across different regions.