Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to begin negotiations over a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to strengthen bilateral trade ties, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The agreement on negotiations was reached by Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani Al Zeyoudi on April 6.

Minister Dien spoke highly of the potential and opportunities the CEPA would bring for both countries.

He said the UAE is Vietnam’s largest trade partner in the Middle East and North Africa, and there remains ample space to promote the potential of the two economies.

He proposed that both sides increased exchanges of delegations and businesses to seek cooperative opportunities, particularly in trade and investment.