Brian Jeffrey
On May 7, following a welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace, General Secretary To Lam engaged in discussions with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who also leads the ruling New Azerbaijan Party.
Both leaders emphasized the historical importance of their Joint Declaration that establishes a Strategic Partnership between their countries.
President Aliyev remarked that General Secretary To Lam’s visit would significantly boost cooperation across various sectors. He fondly recalled his visit to Vietnam in 2014, commending its beauty, hospitality, vibrant growth, and increased global standing. The President congratulated Vietnam on its remarkable and sustainable progress, confirming its positive trajectory in socio-economic development.
General Secretary To Lam reiterated Vietnam’s appreciation for its longstanding friendship and diverse cooperation with Azerbaijan, highlighting the roots of their relationship in President Ho Chi Minh’s 1959 visit. He noted the importance of Azerbaijan as a regional partner and expressed interest in enhancing bilateral relations further.
In the last thirty years, Vietnam and Azerbaijan have made substantial progress in their relationship. Political and diplomatic engagements have strengthened, energy collaboration has advanced, and there remains significant potential for partnerships in defense, security, trade, investment, and education.
To capitalize on this potential and address global challenges, General Secretary To Lam introduced five key initiatives aimed at fostering practical and comprehensive cooperation.
These initiatives focus on enhancing the roles of the Intergovernmental Committee in economic, trade, scientific, and technical collaboration, particularly by exploring new sectors like processing industries, mechanical engineering, and chemicals, while also strengthening oil and gas partnerships.
Both nations should boost information sharing, investigate investment opportunities, and enhance human resource training, especially in clean and renewable energy sectors.
Businesses are encouraged to increase networking and investment in one another’s markets.
Furthermore, there’s a push for heightened agricultural investment and quicker agreements on investment promotion and protection.
Both countries aim to leverage their strengths in maritime and railway transport and promote more local-level cooperation.
President Aliyev pledged to enhance cooperation across various fields, particularly in economy, trade, and investment. He highlighted Azerbaijan’s geographic advantages, expressing a desire for collaboration with Vietnam in logistics, ports, railways, aviation, and renewable energy. He welcomed Vietnamese enterprises to invest and work in Azerbaijan, promising conducive conditions.
The two leaders noted the historical significance of the Strategic Partnership Joint Declaration as a framework for advancing mutual relations while maximizing their respective strengths in the modern era.
They agreed to maintain coordination in international forums, especially the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, and CICA.
Vietnam expressed its willingness to serve as a link for Azerbaijan to increase ties with Southeast Asia, while Azerbaijan would assist Vietnam in expanding its connections with Central Asia.
Tran Thuong
