Vietnam, Kazakhstan agree to foster ties

The agreement was reached during talks in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana on September 15 between Kazak Prime Minister Karim Massimov and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung, who arrived there for a two-day visit on September 14.

The two agreed to step up the exchange of visits at all levels to promote mutual understanding and identify ways to strengthen the relationship.

Host and guest briefed each other on the socio-economic situation in their respective countries and shared experiences in converting to a market economy and achieving sustainable development. They also compared notes on the global economic crisis.

Mr Dung praised Kazakhstan’s role in the region and the world, especially its key initiatives to pursue the disarmament of nuclear weapons, reinforce the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and build up trust and increase cooperation in Asia.

Mr Massimov expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s achievements during the Renewal and integration process, saying the country has maintained socio-political stability and achieved high economic growth for many consecutive years, even in 2008 and the first half of 2009 despite the negative effects of the global economic recession.

Both PMs admitted economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and Kazakhstan remains modest and has yet to match its potential. They agreed to finalise measures creating favourable conditions for their businesses to invest and operate efficiently in their respective countries. They agreed to improve the operational efficiency of the Vietnam-Kazakhstan Joint Governmental Committee, establish direct links between the two countries’ Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and organise fact-finding tours and trade fairs for their businesses to seek investment opportunities.    

They said the oil and gas sector will be a priority area in bilateral cooperation in the future. To this end, they will allow the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group and Kazakhstan’s State Oil Company Kaz MunaiGaz to jointly explore, exploit, process and transport oil and gas in Kazakhstan, Vietnam and third countries.

The two PMs also agreed to increase cooperation in science-technology, culture, humanism, education, training, tourism and labour.

They said they are satisfied with the two countries’ close cooperation and mutual support in regional and international forums, affirming that this important diplomatic channel should be promoted in the future.

They noted that in 2010 Vietnam will be the rotary president of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) while Kazakhstan will take over the chair of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). This is an opportunity for both countries to expand cooperation and ties with other countries in their regions.

Mr Dung announced that Vietnam has agreed to join the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) as an official member instead of simply as an observer as it was before. He praised Kazakhstan’s efforts in CICA to promote peace and stability in the region and the rest of the world.

The two leaders shared the view that Vietnam and Kazakhstan should soon exchange documents recognising their market economy status and support each other in winning a seat on the UNESCO Executive Council at its 35^th session in Paris later this year.

Mr Dung invited Mr Massimov to visit Vietnam and the invitation was accepted with pleasure. The visit will be arranged through diplomatic channels. 

After the talks, the two witnessed the signing of 7 cooperative documents, including 4 government-level agreements on investment protection and promotion, cooperation in education and training, and mutual guest-worker programmes.

Other documents included an agreement on strategic cooperation between the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group and Kazakhstan’s State Oil Company Kaz MunaiGaz, a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade and Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, and a cooperation deal between the Vietnam and Kazakhstan Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Later the same day, Mr Dung met with Kazak President Nursultan A. Nazarbayev and Senate Chairman Kasym Jomart Kemelevich, and attended a Vietnam-Kazakhstan business forum.

He assured President Nazarbayev that Vietnam attaches great importance to promoting all-round cooperation with Kazakhstan, considering this one of the country’s priority areas in its foreign policy.

Mr Nazarbayev spoke highly the results of talks between PM Dung and PM Karim Massimov which he said will lay a firm foundation for strengthening bilateral cooperation in economics, trade, investment, science, technology, education, tourism and labour.

Mr Dung invited Mr Nazarbayev to visit Vietnam and the invitation was accepted with pleasure.

In a meeting with Senate Chairman Kemelevich, Mr Dung briefed him on a number of cooperative documents signed after talks between him and PM Massimov. He expressed his hope that the Kazak parliament and Mr Kemelevich himself will soon approve these documents and speed up negotiations to sign a double tax avoidance agreement to increase bilateral trade.

At the Vietnam-Kazakhstan business forum, the two PMs affirmed that their governments will create the best possible conditions for their businesses to seek investment opportunities and develop trade.  

Also on September 15, Mr Dung met with Vietnamese Embassy staff and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Kazakhstan.