Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân had talks with Kazakhstani lower house Chairman Nurlan Nigmatulin in Hà Nội on Thursday. VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đức

HÀ NỘI —  Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân held talks with Chairman of the Mazhilis (lower house) of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Nurlan Nigmatulin yesterday following a welcoming ceremony for her guest.

Chairwoman Ngân described Nigmatulin’s official visit as a milestone in the traditional friendship and multi-faceted co-operation between the two countries.

Nigmatulin highlighted their fruitful bilateral relationship, especially the development of legislative ties.

They said that apart from growing political and diplomatic relations, economic and trade links between Việt Nam and Kazakhstan had improved.

Since 2016, the free trade agreement between Việt Nam and the Eurasian Economic Union had benefited Việt Nam-Kazakhstan economic and trade collaboration, they said, adding that two-way trade increased from more than $200 million in 2017 to $268 million last year.

The figure stood at nearly $130 million in the first half of this year.
However, the leaders said the results had yet to match the potential of both sides.

Chairwoman Ngân said that Việt Nam wished to enhance exports of mobile phones, electronic products and components to Kazakhstan, and stood ready to facilitate the import of ore, minerals, chemicals and computers from the Central Asian country.

The two sides said they would prioritise boosting economic and trade ties, especially in areas of Việt Nam’s strengths and Kazakhstan’s demands, like light industry, food and garment-textiles.

The Vietnamese NA was willing to work with the Government and relevant agencies to create favourable conditions for Kazakhstani businesses to operate in Việt Nam, she said, appealing to the Kazakhstani Parliament to facilitate the operation of Vietnamese firms in its country.

Regarding the East Sea situation, Ngân said Việt Nam welcomed efforts made by all countries to contribute to maintaining peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation and aviation for co-operation and development in the region.

She called on Kazakhstan to support Việt Nam and ASEAN's stance that disputes in the East Sea must be handled by peaceful measures, without the use of force or threat to use force, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The leader suggested the two sides consider signing a co-operation agreement between the two legislative bodies, creating an important legal foundation for sustainable and effective growth.

Agreeing with the Vietnamese legislator’s proposals, Nigmatulin said the two sides should focus on enhancing economic and trade ties.

There is room for the two countries to expand trade and investment links and tourism co-operation, he added.

Nigmatulin suggested the two nations promote the exchange of delegations at levels.

After the press conference, Nigmatulin and his entourage attended a session of the Vietnamese National Assembly at Diên Hồng Hall.

Meeting with PM

Later the same day, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc meet Chairman Nigmatulin, saying that he believed the visit would open up a new chapter in bilateral relations.

Nigmatulin said that Việt Nam was an important partner of Kazakhstan in Southeast Asia.

He told his host that his talks with Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân were successful, during which the two sides agreed to boost partnerships their countries.

Asserting that Việt Nam and Kazakhstan had high potential for co-operation, especially in agriculture, light industry, transport, logistics and tourism, he said he hoped that more Vietnamese firms would seek business opportunities in Kazakhstan.

PM Phúc stressed the need to increase exchanges among businesses from both side and the organisation of trade fairs, exhibitions and business forums, thus bolstering co-operation in investment and areas of potential such as agriculture, education-training, science-technology, culture-sport and tourism.

Noting that Việt Nam's aviation sector was growing strongly, the PM welcomed the opening of a new air route between the two countries.

The Kazakh legislator said the Parliament of Kazakhstan would prioritise and support trade connections between the two countries, especially through a railway system from Việt Nam to Kazakhstan and Europe via China. — VNS