ASTANA, Kazakhstan, May 6. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held expanded-format talks with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam, Trend reports.
Welcoming the Vietnamese delegation, President Tokayev noted that this visit demonstrates a commitment to further strengthening cooperation. He expressed support for Vietnam's strategic goal of becoming one of the world’s 25 largest economies by 2040, emphasizing Kazakhstan’s readiness to provide comprehensive assistance in achieving this ambitious target.
"Currently, trade, economic, and investment cooperation between Kazakhstan and Vietnam is developing dynamically. In a short time, we have successfully implemented a number of major projects. All the prerequisites exist for further expansion of mutually beneficial ties. The documents signed during this historic visit will give new impetus to strengthening Kazakh-Vietnamese relations," Tokayev noted.
Moreover, special attention during the talks was given to increasing mutual trade volume. In 2024, trade turnover between the two countries reached $860 million. The parties intend to increase this figure to $2 billion in the near future. They also exchanged views on the prospects for joint activities in the tourism sector.
Currently, Kazakhstan and Vietnam have a visa-free regime in place, and the number of direct flights exceeds 40. To encourage mutual tourist flows, President Tokayev proposed exploring Kazakh destinations that might be of interest to Vietnamese citizens.
In turn, To Lam expressed gratitude to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the people of Kazakhstan for their warm welcome and conveyed heartfelt greetings on behalf of Vietnamese President Luong Cuong.
"Vietnam and Kazakhstan have maintained close ties for decades. In August 1959, our President Ho Chi Minh made an official visit to Kazakhstan, laying a solid foundation for the traditional friendship and long-standing cooperation between our peoples. Since then, bilateral relations have steadily developed thanks to the efforts of generations of leaders and citizens. The Party and people of Vietnam will always be grateful for the support Kazakhstan provided in the past – during our struggle for national liberation – and continues to provide today in our development efforts," added the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted the significance of holding Vietnam Culture Days in Kazakhstan, emphasizing that such events help strengthen intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding between the peoples.
Following the talks, the President of Kazakhstan expressed confidence that General Secretary To Lam's visit would mark a new milestone in the history of traditionally friendly relations between the two states.
On May 5, General Secretary To Lam arrived in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, for a state visit. That day, a brief conversation between the leaders of Kazakhstan and Vietnam took place at the Astana airport. On May 7, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam is scheduled to attend a military parade in Astana dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory.
