Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính (right) had talks with Kazakhstani President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Hà Nội on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam always values its friendship with traditional partner countries in the Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, and wants to enhance multifaceted cooperation between the two nations for the mutual benefit of both countries and their people, affirmed Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính at his meeting with visiting Kazakhstani President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Hà Nội on Monday.

Commending positive developments in the bilateral relationship, particularly in politics, diplomacy, economy, and trade, the PM suggested that both sides increase their exchange of visits and meetings at all levels, and continue to support each other at multilateral forums and international organisations, especially the United Nations and Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA).

The Kazakhstani President stated that Kazakhstan regards Việt Nam as an important partner in the Asia-Pacific region and hopes to further strengthen the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with the Southeast Asian country, particularly in economy, trade, and investment, based on shared values and interests.

Chính praised the nations’ effective implementation of the free trade agreement (FTA) between Việt Nam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). He also noted that there remain untapped potential and ample room for the sides to complement each other and develop together.

He suggested Kazakhstan continue to create favourable conditions for strong Vietnamese goods such as agro-fishery products, textiles, and woodwork to access the Kazakhstani market. Both sides should collaborate to speed up the amendment of the FTA to further facilitate bilateral trade and investment.

In response, Tokayev assured that he will direct the Kazakhstani Government to focus on enhancing cooperation in the fields mentioned by PM Chính, particularly transport, logistics, culture, tourism, finance, and digital transformation. He expressed his wish to further promote the role of the Việt Nam-Kazakhstan intergovernmental committee on economic-trade and sci-tech cooperation and push for the implementation of specific projects between the two nations.

The Vietnamese Government leader hoped that in addition to the signing of the mutual visa exemption agreement for ordinary passport holders and the memorandum of understanding on tourism cooperation, the President’s visit will open up more opportunities for people-to-people exchanges, promote tourism cooperation, and facilitate trade between the nations.

On the occasion, the PM thanked Kazakhstan for its support for Vietnamese citizens living, working, and studying in Kazakhstan. He urged continued favourable conditions created for Vietnamese enterprises to invest and do business there. — VNS