Hanoi, July 17, 2024, The Europe Today: On July 16, Vietnamese President Tô Lâm received the ambassadors of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Türkiye, members of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS), underscoring Việt Nam’s commitment to strengthening ties with the OTS and its member nations.
President Lâm highlighted the strategic importance of the OTS, a bridge between Asia and Europe, and reaffirmed Việt Nam’s dedication to enhancing cooperation with the organization and its member countries. He noted the ongoing reinforcement of traditional friendships and multifaceted cooperation through regular high-level meetings.
The President called for close coordination between the ambassadors and Vietnamese agencies to facilitate delegation exchanges, particularly at senior levels. He emphasized the need for Việt Nam and the Turkic countries to maintain effective coordination and mutual support in international and regional forums, including the United Nations.
While acknowledging the growth in economic and trade partnerships, with rising bilateral trade, President Lâm noted that relations have yet to reach their full potential, particularly in areas such as transport, agriculture, education, culture, sports, tourism, local government ties, and people-to-people diplomacy. He assured that Việt Nam would create optimal conditions for enterprises from OTS countries to conduct business and invest in Việt Nam.
Vietnamese President Expresses confidence in the ambassadors’ ability to strengthen ties
Expressing confidence in the ambassadors’ ability to strengthen ties, President Lâm pledged support from the Party, State, ministries, and sectors of Việt Nam to ensure a successful term for the diplomats.
The ambassadors reiterated their countries’ appreciation for Việt Nam’s role and expressed a strong desire to expand bilateral cooperation, enhance coordination at multilateral forums, and strengthen ties between the Turkic countries and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Azerbaijani Ambassador Shovgi Kamal Oglu Mehdizade highlighted the upcoming 65th anniversary of President Hồ Chí Minh’s visit to Azerbaijan, which laid the foundation for strong bilateral ties, particularly in oil and gas. He announced plans for activities to showcase the two countries’ histories and cooperation potential.
Kazakh Ambassador Kanat Tumysh noted the dynamic growth in economic and trade links, with rising bilateral trade, and expressed readiness to facilitate Vietnamese investment in Kazakhstan, emphasizing potential collaborations in transport, aviation, education, tourism, and local government connections.
Turkish Ambassador Korhan Kemik committed to elevating bilateral relations and negotiating documents to enhance the legal framework for cooperation. He aimed to increase bilateral trade from US$2.2 billion to US$4 billion and appreciated the support for the early opening of the Turkish Consulate General in HCM City.
The ambassadors pledged their efforts to strengthen relations between their countries and Việt Nam, contributing to common goals of peace, cooperation, and development in both regions and the world.
