Photo: akorda.kz
Kazakhstan and Vietnam have officially established a strategic partnership, according to a statement published by the website of the Akorda Presidential Palace. The decision was made during the state visit of To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, to Astana.
«The two sides agreed to raise the level of bilateral relations to a strategic partnership and to continue deepening cooperation (...),» reads a joint declaration by To Lam and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
According to the statement, both countries will collaborate in the oil and gas sector to diversify raw material sources. A notable step in this direction was the signing of an exploration agreement between KazMunayGas and Petrovietnam Exploration Production.
In the areas of national defense, security, and law enforcement, the leaders agreed to explore cooperation in personnel training and UN peacekeeping operations, as well as to exchange information in the fight against corruption.
In the transport sector, the parties praised the December 24, 2024 agreement under which Vietnam's Sovico Group purchased Kazakh low-cost airline Qazaq Air from the Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund. The airline is expected to be renamed VietJet Qazaqstan. On the sidelines of the summit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin told reporters that Sovico Group is also considering acquiring one of Kazakhstan’s airports.
The two countries also discussed expanding labor exchanges and agreed to strengthen cooperation in high technology and space research.
Finally, Kazakhstan and Vietnam agreed to develop a joint action plan to enhance trade and economic ties. Vietnam is one of Kazakhstan's key partners in Southeast Asia. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Trade and Integration, bilateral trade in 2024 reached $859.4 million. The two sides aim to raise this figure to $2 billion in the near future.
