Dung told representatives of 200 participating businesses that the Vietnamese government will strive to create the most favorable conditions for Kuwaiti investors to conduct long-term business in Vietnam.

In recent years, cooperation between Vietnam and Kuwait has developed steadily in various fields, including economics, trade, investment, oil and gas, labor and aviation, he said.

During the visit, the two countries signed a number of important cooperative treaties, including the Agreement on Air Transport.

Two-way trade between Vietnam and Kuwait has rocketed in recent years, reaching US$120 million in 2008, triple the 2007 figure.

Several Kuwaiti companies have studied the possibility of implementing large-scale investment projects in Vietnam, including the Nghi Son oil refinery worth about $6 billion and a project to construct a multipurpose conference and exhibition center in Ho Chi Minh City.

Also Wednesday, Prime Minister Dung was received . He also met with Kuwaiti National Assembly Speaker Jassem AlKharafi.

The king voiced his support for certain aspects of cooperation between the two countries, particularly in oil and gas, finance and banking and real estate, areas in which Kuwait is traditionally strong.

Speaker Jassem Al-Kharafi reiterated Kuwait’s determination to make Vietnam a top priority in its regional policy.

Earlier on Tuesday, Dung met with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Nasser al-Mohammed al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah.