Azerbaijan reaffirms support for Vietnam’s Party leadership, advances strategic partnership
Azerbaijan’s engagement with the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and a series of upcoming high-level exchanges reflect growing political trust and the substantive outcomes of the Vietnam-Azerbaijan strategic partnership established in 2025.
THE HANOI TIMES — The participation of the Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan in both the opening and closing ceremonies of the 14th National Congress of the CPV underscored Azerbaijan’s respect for the Congress and its recognition of the CPV’s central role in guiding the country’s political stability and socio-economic development.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam (L) and Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev during the Vietnamese leader's visit in May 2025. Photo: VNA
On this occasion, the New Azerbaijan Party sent a congratulatory letter to the Communist Party of Vietnam, affirming its appreciation of the Party’s decisive leadership in shaping Vietnam’s development trajectory, maintaining social cohesion and improving the living standards of the Vietnamese people.
The message highlighted the Communist Party of Vietnam as a key pillar behind the country’s sustained progress and rising international profile.
The letter also expressed satisfaction with the positive development of Azerbaijan-Vietnam relations, particularly following the upgrade of bilateral ties to a strategic partnership during the state visit of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam to Azerbaijan in May 2025.
Party-to-party cooperation between the New Azerbaijan Party and the Communist Party of Vietnam was identified as an important foundation supporting broader bilateral relations.
Strategic partnership shaped by high-level outcomes
Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Vietnam Shovgi Mehdizade attends the 14th National Party Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam taking place in Hanoi on January 19-23. Photo: The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Hanoi
General Secretary To Lam’s visit to Azerbaijan marked a historic turning point in bilateral ties. During the visit, leaders of the two countries adopted a Joint Declaration on establishing a strategic partnership, creating a comprehensive framework to guide cooperation across political, economic, cultural and people-to-people spheres.
The visit reinforced mutual political trust and elevated dialogue between Party, State and Government agencies. Both sides agreed to intensify high-level exchanges, strengthen coordination mechanisms and enhance cooperation in regional and international forums, in line with their independent and self-reliant foreign policies.
Among the results, the agreement to deepen cooperation in energy, an area of traditional strength for Azerbaijan and strategic importance for Vietnam, becomes the key outcome. Accordingly, the two sides agreed to expand collaboration in oil and gas exploration, technical services, energy infrastructure and professional training, while encouraging closer links between energy enterprises of both countries.
Apart from energy, the visit opened new space for cooperation in trade, investment, transport, logistics and tourism. Leaders emphasized the need to improve connectivity, facilitate market access and support greater participation by businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, in bilateral economic activities.
Expanding cooperation into new growth areas
Vietnam-Azerbaijan relations laid in the mid-20th century by the two countries' leaders. Photo: Linh Pham/The Hanoi Times
In line with Vietnam’s transition toward higher-quality growth, both sides expressed interest in exploring cooperation in innovation, digital transformation and technology application.
Business exchanges associated with the visit created momentum for collaboration in emerging sectors, including digital economy initiatives and startup ecosystems, reflecting shared efforts to adapt to global economic shifts.
Cultural diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges were also highlighted as important pillars of the strategic partnership. Agreements and understandings reached during the visit encourage expanded cooperation in culture, education and tourism, contributing to deeper mutual understanding and more sustainable long-term relations.
These developments form the backdrop for continued high-level engagement. The Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan has announced that Tahir Budagov, Chairman of the State Statistical Committee of Azerbaijan, Deputy Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party and Head of its Central Office, will visit Vietnam from January 26 to 31.
The visit, taking place shortly after the conclusion of the CPV’s Congress, is expected to strengthen party-to-party ties and institutional cooperation.
To mark the occasion, the Azerbaijani Embassy will host an official reception attended by senior Vietnamese party and government representatives, as well as partners from various institutions.
Vietnam and Azerbaijan have agreed on a comprehensive cooperation agenda for the 2025-2027 period, covering 17 priority areas and dozens of specific activities in fields such as commerce, science, technology and energy. This roadmap reflects a shared determination to translate political commitments into practical and mutually beneficial outcomes.
With strengthened strategic trust, expanding economic cooperation and active party-to-party engagement, the Azerbaijan-Vietnam relations are well positioned to continue developing in a stable, substantive and forward-looking manner in the coming years.
