Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh (R) receives Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Akylbek Kamaldinov yesterday.— Photo VGP

HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh highlighted improvements in Việt Nam-Kazakhstan trade ties while receiving Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Akylbek Kamaldinov yesterday.

At the meeting in Hà Nội, Minh noted the progress in bilateral relations in various spheres, from politics, economy and trade, to culture, tourism and security.

Visits by the two countries’ leaders, with the most recent being an official trip to Kazakhstan by National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân in October, have created momentum for multifaceted co-operation.

He praised the initial improvements in bilateral trade since the Việt Nam- Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Free Trade Agreement took effect in October 2016. Trade reached US$184 million in the first nine months of 2017, approximating the figure for all of 2016.

The two countries need to devise measures to continue carrying out the trade pact in an effective manner, he said, adding that Việt Nam is ready to act as a bridge for the implementation of a free trade agreement between Kazakhstan and ASEAN. For his part, Deputy Minister Kamaldinov praised Việt Nam’s socio-economic achievements and congratulated the country on the successful APEC Year 2017.

He asked the two countries to promote their traditional friendship and co-operation to reach the aspirations of the two countries’ Governments and people.

Earlier, the Kazakh official had a political consultation with Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Đặng Đình Quý.

The two sides agreed to maintain all-level delegation exchanges and political consultations to boost mutual understanding and bilateral co-operation.

They will coordinate closely and support each other at the United Nations, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia and other international forums, particularly amid Kazakhstan’s non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for 2017-2018.

At the event, the officials also discussed co-operation and security in Asia-Pacific.

They underscored the importance of peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation in the East Sea, peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law and the avoidance of force or threats to use force.

They concurred on the importance of bolstering trade and investment ties and creating favourable conditions for the countries’ businesses to partner in their fields of strength, such as agriculture, processing, manufacturing, infrastructure building and defence industry.

Today, Deputy Foreign Minister Akylbek Kamaldinov will co-chair the 8th Meeting of the Vietnam-Kazakhstan Intergovernmental Committee for Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technological Co-operation with the leader of the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade in Hà Nội.—VNS