At the talks with Chairman of the Mazhilis, Mr Nurlan Nigmatulin, in Astana, the NA Chairwoman thanked Kazakhstan for its valuable support to Vietnam during its national liberation and unification cause as well as the present national development, considering it a firm foundation for the traditional partnership between the two countries.
She stressed that the Party, State, and people of Vietnam always wish to enhance the cooperative relations with Kazakhstan in all fields. Moreover, she highly valued achievements recently gained by Kazakhstan in politics, socio-economy, and culture, especially the country’s capability to attract foreign direct investment (over USD 200 billion) to become a leading economy in Central Asia.
NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (R) and Chairman of the Mazhilis, Mr Nurlan Nigmatulin
Meanwhile, Mr Nurlan Nigmatulin held that the Vietnamese NA Chairwoman’s visit is a historic event in the two countries’ relations as she was the first Vietnamese NA Chairperson, especially a female one, to visit the country on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The Vietnamese guest highlighted that the bilateral relationship is thriving in various areas, ranging from politics to economy, trade, culture, tourism and security, with two-way trade now reaching USD 300 million per year.
The two chairpersons agreed that the implementation of the Vietnam-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (VN-EAEU FTA) has generated many opportunities for businesses of the two countries. Therefore, the two sides should make the most of the tax incentives to boost imports and exports. The two sides also agreed to evaluate the one-year implementation of the VN-EAEU FTA to draw and learn lessons and set forth measures in order to continue implementing the deal effectively. Additionally, the two leaders agreed to facilitate and maintain the Vietnam-Kazakhstan Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic-Commercial and Scientific-Technological Cooperation, and soon organize the eighth meeting of the committee.
Moreover, the two leaders also agreed that to promote mutual support at international organizations, especially the UN, Vietnam and Kazakhstan need to strengthen collaboration in all channels, between the parties, states, localities, businesses, and people-to-people exchange.
The Vietnamese NA Chairwoman affirmed that the Government of Vietnam and its relevant agencies always support and create favorable conditions for Kazakhstani businesses and hoped that Kazakhstan would reciprocate and provide the best conditions for Vietnamese firms to invest in Kazakhstan.
The host stressed that Kazakhstan wants to exchange legislative experiences with Vietnam and the two parliaments should also expand cooperation between their specialized committees.
The guest agreed with the host, saying that the legislative ties are an important channel for cooperation between the two countries and the Vietnamese NA wants to enhance its cooperation with the Kazakhstani Parliament at regional and international forums.
At noon on the same day, the Vietnamese NA Chairwoman met with Chairman of the Senate of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev.
Ngan informed the host of the results of the talks between her and Chairman of the Mazhilis and the Vietnamese NA established the Vietnam-Kazakhstan Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group to provide the bridging role to boost the cooperation relations between the two parliaments in particular and the two countries in general.
The Vietnamese NA leader proposed upholding consultation mechanism and mutual support at multilateral parliamentary forums, discussing regional and global issues of shared concern, facilitating the exchange of all-level visits and monitoring the implementation of agreements signed between the two countries.
Agreeing with the guest, the host held that to strengthen the foundation of the traditional relations and promote the potentials of each country, the two sides should further enhance cooperation in various fields.
He said the two countries’ two-way trade rose to USD $375 million in the first eight months this year from USD $370 million in 2016. The figure is estimated at 450 million USD this year, but he said that it has not yet tapped the full potentials of the two countries. Therefore, he suggested that parliamentarians and groups of friendship parliamentarians of the two countries should strengthen cooperation to urge the two governments to boost bilateral trade.
Applauding Vietnam’s accession to the VN-EAEU FTA, the Kazakhstani host agreed with the Vietnamese guest that the two sides should implement the deal more effectively to fully tap its incentives and opportunities. He confirmed that Kazakhstan always welcomes small- and medium-sized Vietnamese enterprises to do business in the country.
On the same afternoon, the Vietnamese NA Chairwoman paid a courtesy call on Kazakhstani Prime Minister and received leaders of the Nur Otan party.
Translated by Nam Long