Vietnam, Kazakhstan enjoy sound relationship

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan welcomes Chairman of the Mazhilis (lower house) of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Nurlan Nigmatulin (L)

At the talks, the Vietnamese NA leader highlighted the Kazakhstani guest’s official visit as a landmark in the time-honoured friendship and all-around cooperation between the two nations.

Nigmatulin applauded the fruitful bilateral relationship, especially the positive development of legislative ties via frequent visits and meetings, including bilateral ones on the sidelines of regional and international parliamentary forums.

Since 2016, the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union has benefited Vietnam-Kazakhstan economic and trade ties, with two-way trade surging from more than US$ 200 million in 2017 to US$268 million last year. The first half of this year saw the figure rise to nearly US$130 million, the two leaders said. However, according to them, the results are still below full potential of both sides.

They suggested prioritizing the enhancement of economic and trade ties, especially in the fields of Vietnam’s strength and Kazakhstan’s demand such as light industry, food, and garments and textiles.

The two sides hold talks

Vietnam wants to bolster the export of mobile phones, electronic products and components to Kazakhstan, and is ready to facilitate the import of ore, minerals, chemicals and computers from the Central Asian country, Ngan told her guest.

The top Vietnamese legislator hailed the success of the ninth meeting of the Vietnam-Kazakhstan Intergovernmental Committee in Nursultan last September, which outlined specific cooperation orientations across a multitude of fields.

Ngan assured the Vietnamese NA’s willingness to work hand in hand with the Government and relevant agencies to offer favourable conditions for Kazakhstani businesses to operate in Vietnam, while asking the Kazakhstani Parliament to facilitate the operation of Vietnamese firms in the country.

The two parliamentary leaders say after 27 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, Vietnam-Kazakhstan relations are growing steadily.

She thanked Kazakhstan for its support for Vietnam to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021, and greatly valued the close coordination and mutual support of the two countries at regional and international forums, as well as within the framework of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, the Non-Aligned Movement and the UN.

With regard to the East Sea issue, the NA Chairwoman said Vietnam welcomes efforts of all countries to contribute to maintaining peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation and aviation for cooperation and development in the region.

Ngan called on Kazakhstan to support stance of Vietnam and ASEAN that disputes in the East Sea must be settled by peaceful measures, without the use of force or threat to use force in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

She proposed that the two sides consider signing a cooperation agreement between the two legislative bodies, thus creating an important legal foundation for the sustainable and effective cooperation in the time ahead.

Both leaders are elated to see the friendship and cooperation between the two legislatures constantly being strengthened for further development.

They underlined the need to intensify delegation exchanges at different levels, promote consultation mechanisms and closer coordination at multilateral forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP) and the Meeting of Speakers of Eurasian Countries (MSEAP).

Agreeing with the Vietnamese top legislator’s proposals, Nigmatulin said the two sides should focus on boosting economic and trade ties in the time to come, adding that there is plenty of room for both sides to expand trade and investment links and tourism cooperation.

Nigmatulin urged the two countries to further strengthen all-level delegation exchange, deepen mutual trust and understanding, and push for stronger bilateral cooperation, including collaboration between the two legislative bodies, their committees, and parliament groups.

He thanked NA Chairwoman Ngan for her invitation to him to attend the 41st ASEAN Inter Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA 41) in 2020, saying that Kazakhstan will send a delegation to the event.

At a press briefing after the talks, NA Chairwoman Ngan said the two sides concurred to consider the possibility of signing a cooperation agreement between the two law-making bodies, giving added impetus to stepping up their effective and sustainable cooperation.

The two sides also consented to maintain and promote the consultation mechanism and closely coordinate at multilateral forums such as IPU, APPF, ASEP and MSEAP in order to discuss issues of shared concern.

Nigmatulin said his nation regards Vietnam as a strategic partner in Southeast Asia, while Vietnam considers Kazakhstan an important partner in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

On the same day, the Kazakhstani delegation paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum and laid wreaths at the Heroic Martyrs' Monument in Hanoi.