President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held extended-format talks with To Lam, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Welcoming the Vietnamese delegation, President Tokayev noted that the visit reflects a shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral ties. He expressed support for Vietnam’s strategic goal of joining the world’s top 25 economies by 2040, emphasizing Kazakhstan’s readiness to provide comprehensive assistance in achieving this ambitious target.
– Trade, economic, and investment cooperation between Kazakhstan and Vietnam is developing dynamically. In a short time, we have successfully implemented several major projects. All the conditions are in place to further expand mutually beneficial ties. The documents signed during this historic visit will provide fresh momentum to strengthening Kazakhstan-Vietnam relations, – Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stressed.
The talks focused heavily on increasing mutual trade. In 2024, bilateral trade reached $860 million, with both sides aiming to raise this figure to $2 billion in the near future.
The leaders also discussed prospects for cooperation in tourism. A visa-free regime is currently in place between Kazakhstan and Vietnam, and over 40 direct flights operate between the two countries. To boost mutual tourism flows, President Tokayev proposed exploring Kazakhstani destinations that could appeal to Vietnamese citizens.
In response, To Lam thanked President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the people of Kazakhstan for their warm hospitality and conveyed heartfelt congratulations from Vietnamese President Luong Cuong.
– For decades, Vietnam and Kazakhstan have maintained close relations. In August 1959, our President Ho Chi Minh made an official visit to Kazakhstan, laying a strong foundation for the traditional friendship and long-standing cooperation between our peoples. Since then, bilateral ties have steadily grown 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 offer today in our development efforts, – said the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
President Tokayev highlighted the importance of holding Vietnam Culture Days in Kazakhstan, noting that such events foster intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding between the two nations.
Ahead of a military parade marking Defender of the Fatherland Day, the Kazakh President paid special tribute to the contributions of Lieutenant General Zhansen Kereyev, a compatriot who significantly advanced military-technical cooperation between Kazakhstan and Vietnam. In 1982, Kereyev was sent to Vietnam as a senior advisor to the People’s Army headquarters, providing substantial support in strengthening the country’s defense capabilities and building its armed forces. At the initiative of Ho Chi Minh, he was awarded Vietnam’s highest military honor, the Order of the Red Banner.
Concluding the talks, President Tokayev expressed confidence that General Secretary To Lam’s visit would mark a new milestone in the history of traditionally friendly relations between the two countries.