On the occasion of the 56^th Anniversary of the Independence Day and the 26^th Anniversary of the Liberation Day of the State of Kuwait, a reception was hosted by the Consulate General of the State of Kuwait in Ho Chi Minh City on February 23, 2017 at the Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City. Mr. Tran Vinh Tuyen – Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City attended the function as the Chief Guest.

In his speech, Mr. Khaled Falah Al-Mutairi, Consul General expressed the deep appreciation to the leaders of Ho Chi Minh City for their unstinting support to the Consulate General of the State of Kuwait in Ho Chi Minh City in the past years, and briefed the development in the traditional friendship relations between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the State of Kuwait in the last 41 years since the two countries established their diplomatic relations in 1976. According to the Consul General, the bilateral trade turnover reached US$ 184 million in 2016 and it is expected to reach US$ 2 billion by 2020 when the commercial operations of the Nghi Son Oil Refinery and Petrochemical Project are commenced. The Consul General also reassured the desire of the State of Kuwait to enhance the economic relations with Vietnam to achieve the shared interests of the two countries.

Speaking at the reception, Mr. Tran Vinh Tuyen – Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City congratulated the Government and people of the State of Kuwait for the achievements in recent years, reiterating that Viet Nam has always considered Kuwait as one of the most important partners in the Gulf. The City also appreciates the Consulate General’s support for charitable activities, and efforts to provide medical equipments, help victims of human trafficking and award scholarships to disadvantage children not only in Ho Chi Minh City but also in other southern provinces. Such kind deeds have contributed to further strengthening the friendship and mutual understandings between Ho Chi Minh City and Kuwait. The Vice Chairman believed the Consul General in his tenure in Vietnam shall contribute more to enhancing the relationship between the State of Kuwait and Vietnam in general, and Ho Chi Minh City in particular.