Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met General Secretary and President Tô Lâm in New York on September 21, 2026. VNA/VNS Photos

As Turkish citizens celebrate the 103rd anniversary of the proclamation of their Republic today, October 29, the country's Ambassador to Việt Nam, Korhan Kemik wrote an article to Việt Nam News, highlighting the two countries' friendship, cooperation and the future of the bilateral ties.

On October 29, Turkish citizens celebrate the 103rd anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Türkiye—a day to honour the courage and determination upon which our Republic was founded and to reaffirm our commitment to carrying its achievements forward.

We remember with profound respect Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of our Republic, and all those whose sacrifices secured our independence. His vision continues to guide our pursuit of peace, prosperity and progress.

Here in Việt Nam, this anniversary is also an opportunity to reflect on a friendship that has grown deeper and stronger over the past year. Since our last Republic Day, Türkiye–Việt Nam cooperation has gained fresh momentum, bringing together political leaders, institutions, businesses, students, writers and young readers. These connections are giving our partnership an increasingly tangible presence in the lives of our peoples.

A friendship grounded in mutual understanding

Despite the geographical distance between them, Türkiye and Việt Nam share a strong spirit of independence, common values and forward-looking aspirations.

Both nations deeply understand the value of independence. The legacies of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and President Hồ Chí Minh occupy a special place in our respective histories, embodying the determination of our peoples to shape their own destinies.

This historical affinity provides a strong foundation for contemporary cooperation. Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1978, Türkiye and Việt Nam have built a relationship rooted in mutual respect,  friendship and a shared commitment to progress.

Türkiye’s Asia Anew Initiative, launched in 2019, has given further impetus to our engagement across the continent. Within this framework, Việt Nam stands out as an important partner, with its impressive development achievements, growing international profile and pivotal role in Southeast Asia offering considerable opportunities for cooperation.

A year of sustained political engagement

The past year has demonstrated the strength and continuity of our high-level political dialogue.

On November 22, 2025, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met former Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on the margins of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. The leaders discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral relations, including expanding economic cooperation and achieving the US$4 billion trade target.  

This momentum continued into 2026, with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Vietnamese counterpart Lê Hoài Trung meeting in Washington, D.C., on February 20, on the margins of the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, further strengthening dialogue between our ministries.

Parliamentary diplomacy also gained momentum. National Assembly President Trần Thanh Mẫn’s participation in the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Istanbul provided an important opportunity to deepen bilateral engagement. He was received by President Erdoğan on April 16 and met with Numan Kurtulmuş, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, on April 17. These exchanges strengthened parliamentary dialogue and mutual understanding, while contributing to the broader development of bilateral relations.

Most recently, on September 21, President Erdoğan met General Secretary and President Tô Lâm in New York on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly. Their meeting reaffirmed the strong political will on both sides to build on the mutual trust and friendship between our countries and elevate bilateral relations towards a Strategic Partnership.

Discussions covered a broad range of priorities, including the $4 billion trade target and cooperation in defence, security, the halal industry, technology and logistics. The leaders also exchanged invitations to COP31 in Türkiye and APEC 2027 in Việt Nam, reflecting their shared interest in maintaining high-level dialogue.

Together, these exchanges reflect not only the growing intensity of our political dialogue but also a shared determination to translate goodwill into lasting cooperation.

On February 20, 2026, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (right) met his Vietnamese counterpart Lê Hoài Trung in Washington, D.C.

Connecting economies and strengthening institutions

Turning this political momentum into concrete results remains a central priority.

Bilateral trade reached approximately $3.3 billion in 2025, while Turkish investment in Việt Nam stood at around $1.7 billion. These figures underscore the growing economic ties between our countries and the significant potential to expand and diversify bilateral trade in sectors such as electronics, machinery, textiles, agricultural and food products, while deepening cooperation in infrastructure, manufacturing, logistics and services.

The participation of a Turkish-led consortium in the construction of the passenger terminal at Long Thành International Airport is a compelling example of what our companies can achieve together. Beyond the scale of the project itself, such flagship investments foster long-term partnerships, bring expertise together and create opportunities for future collaboration.

Connectivity is another key driver of our growing relationship. Turkish Airlines makes a valuable contribution in this regard, providing direct air links between Türkiye and Việt Nam and facilitating travel and exchanges between our countries. On August 6, our civil aviation authorities signed a memorandum of understanding expanding passenger and cargo traffic rights between Türkiye and Việt Nam. This important step will facilitate tourism, business travel and trade, while bringing our countries and peoples closer together.

Our institutional presence is also expanding. The forthcoming opening of Türkiye’s Consulate General in HCM City will mark a further milestone in strengthening our engagement with Việt Nam. The Consulate General will help foster closer ties with local authorities, businesses and communities, facilitate new opportunities for cooperation and further strengthen people-to-people connections.

Deepening and broadening cooperation

As our political and economic ties deepen, institutional dialogue is gaining renewed momentum.

The resumption of bilateral political consultations in late March, following the previous round in 2022, and the inaugural maritime consultations held in Hà Nội on September 30 reflect our commitment to strengthening established channels of dialogue while expanding cooperation into new areas. These mechanisms provide valuable platforms for exchanging views, enhancing mutual understanding and advancing shared priorities.

Our regional cooperation has also entered a new phase. On July 21, Türkiye became ASEAN’s 12th Dialogue Partner, with the valuable support of Việt Nam. This milestone provides a broader regional framework for advancing cooperation on issues of mutual interest and creates new opportunities to work with Việt Nam and other ASEAN members.

These developments demonstrate that our partnership is not only growing stronger but also becoming more diverse, extending into areas of increasing importance for both countries.

Bringing friendship into everyday life

Beyond diplomacy and economics, the strength of Türkiye– Việt Nam relations lies in the natural affinity between our peoples.

Despite the distance separating us, we share a deep attachment to family, a tradition of warm hospitality and pride in our cultural heritage. These similarities create a sense of familiarity that cultural and educational exchanges can turn into lasting friendships.

Literature offers one such bridge. On April 23, Türkiye’s National Sovereignty and Children’s Day, the Vietnamese translations of children’s books by Turkish author Sara Şahinkanat were introduced to young readers in Hà Nội. Through these stories, Vietnamese children gained a new window into Turkish literature and culture, fostering curiosity and mutual understanding from an early age.

Food provides another universal language. Turkish Cuisine Week in May brought the richness of our culinary heritage to Vietnamese audiences, offering a taste of the traditions, flavours and hospitality that are central to Turkish culture. After all, sharing a table is often the simplest way to begin a conversation—and a lasting friendship.

Our development cooperation adds a practical dimension to these people-to-people ties.

Through the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), Türkiye has supported local communities in Việt Nam, particularly in education and agriculture. Recent initiatives include the rehabilitation of Minh Đức Kindergarten, support for agricultural recovery through the Tân Minh Đức Cooperative, and a project to renovate the library of the Hanoi College of Trade and Tourism.

Together with Türkiye Scholarships and student exchanges, these efforts demonstrate our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for young people and local communities.

This year also marked another meaningful first: the inaugural Turkish Victory Day reception in Hà Nội. Bringing together Vietnamese partners and friends, the occasion offered an opportunity to share an important chapter of our national history and celebrate the enduring values of independence and peace that resonate so strongly with both nations.

Shaping the next chapter together

As Türkiye celebrates the 103rd anniversary of its Republic, we look to the future of our partnership with Việt Nam with confidence and determination.

Over the past year, our partnership has continued to develop across multiple areas. High-level political dialogue has deepened, institutional ties have expanded, commercial opportunities have grown, and cultural and development cooperation has reached schools, libraries and local communities.

What makes this progress particularly encouraging is its breadth. Alongside growing diplomatic and economic ties, our partnership is increasingly reflected in shared projects, new connections and opportunities that directly benefit our peoples.

Looking ahead, our priority is clear: to sustain this momentum, broaden cooperation and turn our shared ambitions into concrete achievements.

With the commitment of our governments, institutions, businesses and citizens, Türkiye and Việt Nam can build an even stronger and more enduring partnership—one that draws strength from our shared values, creates new opportunities for our peoples and contributes to peace, stability and prosperity in our regions and beyond. VNS