Vietnam and Kazakhstan will further expand cooperation in politics, economics, trade, investment, energy, agriculture, culture, humanity, science-technology, transportation, and military techniques.

The agreement was reached during talks in Astana capital on September 10 between President Nursultan Nazarbayev and his Vietnamese counterpart Truong Tan Sang who arrived there the same day for an official visit.

They expressed elation at the positive development of the Vietnam-Kazakhstan relations over the past 20 years, and vowed to strengthen this relationship. 

They held that the two countries have great potential for economic-trade development and they will try to bring bilateral trade and economic ties to new heights.

The two presidents welcomed the initiative for establishing a free trade area between Vietnam and the Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, and said effectively undertaking this imitative will add fresh impetus to increasing bilateral cooperation, including in investment attraction.

They said they believe that the Vietnam-Kazakhstan business council will make a significant contribution to supporting economic, trade and investment development and increasing the exchange visits between the two countries’ business communities, including representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises.

They shared the view that oil & gas exploration and exploitation is a key area in bilateral cooperation and that it is necessary to maintain regular exchanges between the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) and Kazakhstan’s State-owned oil producer KazMunaiGaz to implement joint mutually beneficial projects.

They suggested that both countries increase bilateral investment through implementing projects on their territorial areas and establishing joint venture companies using high technologies.

The two leaders encouraged bilateral cooperation in agriculture, especially in sharing experience in farm production.

They underscored the need to strengthen cooperation in the banking sector and welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries’ central banks.

They also welcomed a plan to launch a direct air route between Vietnam and Kazakhstan, saying the new route will help increase exchanges in politics, economics, trade, culture and humanity.

Both sides discussed the possibility of cooperation in military techniques and welcomed relations between relevant companies in the field.

They also agreed that cultural and humanitarian cooperation plays an important role in promoting mutual understanding between the two nations.

They acknowledged the two countries’ close coordination at regional and international forums, including the United Nations, and said Vietnam and Kazakhstan need to further support each other at these forums.

President Nazarbayev said Kazakhstan supports Vietnam’s bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021.

In turn, President Sang voiced Vietnam’s support for Kazakhstan’s bid to join the United Nations Security Council for 2017-2018 and the governing council of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

They said Vietnam and Kazakhstan will coordinate efforts within the framework of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) and other international forums to build and consolidate trust, maintain peace, stability, and ensure security in Asia.

They supported concerned parties in settling regional disputes through peaceful means, without any use of force or threats in using force, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.

Kazakhstan praised Vietnam’s increasing role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and proposed Vietnam support Kazakhstan in joining the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).  

President Sang affirmed that Vietnam is willing to serve as a bridge to connect Kazakhstan and ASEAN.

He invited President Nazarbayev to visit Vietnam and the invitation was accepted with pleasure.

(VOV)