Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan to strengthen ties to comprehensive partnership

The Hanoi Times — The visit of Kyrgyz Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev to Vietnam marks a significant historical milestone, paving the way for a new phase of cooperation in the traditional friendship between the two countries, to upgrade bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Partnership.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh shared the remarks during a meeting with his counterpart today [March 6].

At the meeting, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev expressed his pleasure at visiting Vietnam for the first time, stating that he was impressed by the country’s socio-economic achievements in recent years.

Kasymaliev acknowledged Vietnam’s growing role in Southeast Asia and affirmed that Kyrgyzstan considers Vietnam a priority in its foreign policy. He expressed his country’s desire to enhance bilateral cooperation in areas where both nations have strengths and potential.

In response, Chinh said that the Party, State, and people of Vietnam highly value the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan, which has been nurtured over generations by the leaders and citizens of both nations. He reiterated that Vietnam would never forget the valuable support and assistance provided by the Soviet Union, including Kyrgyzstan, during its struggle for independence, national defense, and current socio-economic development.

In an atmosphere of sincerity, friendship, and mutual trust, the two leaders exchanged information about their respective countries and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations. They agreed on several specific measures to create new momentum and deepen cooperation across multiple sectors.

Both leaders reaffirmed the importance of maintaining exchanges at all levels, particularly at the highest levels of government. They stressed the need for interactions through all available channels, including government ministries, agencies, and local authorities, as well as direct engagements at international forums and conferences, particularly within the United Nations. They also agreed to establish direct communication channels to enhance the effectiveness of high-level agreements.

The two sides committed to continuing their tradition of close coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, particularly within the United Nations. Chinh affirmed Vietnam’s readiness to serve as a bridge for Kyrgyzstan to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN. He also expressed hope that Kyrgyzstan would leverage its role to connect Vietnam with Central Asia and called on Kyrgyzstan to support Vietnam and ASEAN’s stance on the East Sea (South China Sea) issue.

The two leaders acknowledged improvements in economic and trade cooperation, noting that bilateral trade has been growing but remains unstable and does not yet reflect the full potential of both countries. They stressed the need to maximize the opportunities provided by the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union.

To enhance economic collaboration, both sides agreed to establish coordination mechanisms between their economic, trade, and investment authorities. They also discussed the possibility of setting up an intergovernmental committee in the near future and encouraged businesses from both countries to build direct partnerships, participate in trade promotion activities, and attend specialized fairs and exhibitions.

Two prime ministers instructed their respective ministries and agencies to expedite negotiations for agreements on double taxation avoidance, investment promotion and protection, and economic cooperation. They also agreed to exchange lists of exportable goods where each country has competitive advantages, such as wood and wood products, electronics, textiles, seafood, fruits, cashew nuts, and tea.

Chinh proposed that the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan direct relevant ministries and agencies to explore opportunities for cooperation in the production and export of Halal products to the Kyrgyz and broader Central Asian markets.

Both sides agreed to expand cooperation into potential fields such as agriculture, defense and security, education and training, culture and tourism, local government partnerships, and transportation connectivity, particularly in aviation and railways, to open new avenues for collaboration. These efforts, they noted, would facilitate greater mutual understanding between the people of both countries and promote a more comprehensive bilateral relationship.

He expressed gratitude to Kyrgyzstan’s top leaders and government for their support of the Vietnamese community living, working, and studying in Kyrgyzstan. He requested continued assistance to ensure a stable and favorable environment for the Vietnamese community in the country.

Following their talks, the two leaders signed a Joint Statement on the outcomes of Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev’s official visit to Vietnam. They also witnessed the signing and exchange of several bilateral cooperation documents, including an Agreement on Cooperation in Education, a Memorandum of Understanding on Legal Cooperation between the Ministries of Justice of Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan, and a Memorandum of Understanding between the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, the Ministry of Construction of Vietnam, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Kyrgyzstan.

Kasymaliev extended a formal invitation to Prime Minister Chinh to pay an official visit to Kyrgyzstan for further discussions on advancing bilateral cooperation. Chinh accepted the invitation with pleasure and directed the foreign ministries of both countries to arrange a suitable time for the visit.