VietNamNet respectfully introduces the speech of General Secretary To Lam : "Promoting the traditional friendship and strategic partnership between Vietnam and Kazakhstan, making the two countries a bridge of cooperation between Southeast Asia and Central Asia".

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General Secretary To Lam delivers a policy speech at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Kazakhstan. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

“ Dear Mr. Azamat Zholmanov, Rector of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Kazakhstan,

Dear representatives of the leaders of the National Assembly and Government of Kazakhstan,

Dear all,

I am very pleased to return to the majestic and peaceful country of Kazakhstan after 7 years. I am deeply moved by the warm welcome received by President Kassim Jomart Tokayev, the State, Government and People of Kazakhstan.

As we all know, the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Kazakhstan is known as the cradle of leading training and research, specializing in training senior managers for the public sector of Kazakhstan. After more than three decades of development, the Academy has become the leading postgraduate training institution in the region, contributing significantly to shaping the country's leadership and governance thinking, becoming a symbol of innovation and strong development aspirations of Kazakhstan.

I am very moved and sincerely thank the President for his direction and the Board of Directors of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Kazakhstan for closely coordinating with Vietnamese agencies to arrange and welcome me and the Vietnamese delegation today to have the opportunity to share with you some issues.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The year 2025 marks the 66th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's official visit to Kazakhstan (1959-2025), and also marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Kazakhstan diplomatic relations (1992-2027). In particular, the establishment of the Strategic Partnership between the two countries has opened a new chapter in the history of bilateral relations.

Our two countries share many similarities in terms of geostrategic location, historical development and culture; both uphold the tradition of studiousness, hospitality and solidarity.

Kazakhstan is located in the heart of Central Asia, a bridge between Asia and Europe; while Vietnam is located in the heart of Southeast Asia, connecting the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Both peoples have a strong patriotism and a desire for freedom. The name Kazakhstan itself fully represents the spirit of a nation that constantly strives to achieve independence and freedom. With similar aspirations, the national name of Vietnam also associates the two words independence, freedom and happiness.

Both countries have cultures closely tied to nature and unique traditional lifestyles. Vietnam has a rice civilization associated with a system of rivers, plains and a seasonal rhythm of farming and livestock raising; while Kazakhstan has a nomadic culture associated with vast steppes and cattle grazing.

Our two countries also have rich traditional arts with unique folk music, especially the forms of antiphonal singing. Vietnam has vi singing and love singing; Kazakhstan has "Ai-túc" (Aytysh). Vietnam has monochord, T'rung, erhu...; Kazakhstan has dombra, kobyz. Many famous literary and poetic works of Kazakhstan have been translated into Vietnamese, including "A-bai's Commandments" by the great poet and philosopher Abai Kunanbaev; or the epic poem about the Kazakh steppe by writer Ilyas Yesenberlin, which have become familiar to many generations of Vietnamese literature lovers.

Vietnam and Kazakhstan have both overcome difficult economic periods and have risen strongly thanks to the spirit of innovation, creativity, daring to think and dare to do. We highly appreciate Kazakhstan's socio-economic development achievements through impressive steps in recent decades.

Under the wise leadership of generations of leaders, especially President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kazakhstan has grown strongly from a newly independent country to become the largest modern economy in the region (accounting for nearly 60% of Central Asia's GDP), playing an increasingly important role in Central Asia and on the international stage, and is also the initiator of the Forum for Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA).

Similarly, Vietnam has emerged from the hardships of the past through the Doi Moi reforms initiated in 1986, to become one of the most dynamically developing economies in Southeast Asia, with open foreign relations.

The leaders and people of the two countries always cherish and have sincere feelings for each other. During the official visit to Vietnam by the President of Kazakhstan in August 2023, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev presented the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong with an album of meaningful photos of President Ho Chi Minh's visit to Kazakhstan in 1959. The legacies left by President Ho Chi Minh, including the friendship for Kazakhstan, have been passed on to future generations. The resistance war, unification and national construction of Vietnam have been accompanied and contributed by many Kazakh friends, especially Lieutenant General Jassen Kereyev, a Soviet military expert (a citizen of Kazakhstan) who was awarded the First Class Military Exploit Medal by Vietnam. The Party, State and People of Vietnam always cherish the sincere, profound feelings and valuable support that Kazakhstan has given us.

The above evidence is a vivid demonstration of the close traditional friendship between Vietnam and Kazakhstan. Despite the geographical distance, our two countries always have sincere and good feelings for each other.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Entering the third decade of the 21st century, the world is experiencing epochal changes. The global landscape continues to shape itself in a multipolar, multicentric direction. Peace, cooperation and development remain the major trends, but it is also facing unprecedented difficulties and challenges since the Cold War.

Strategic competition among major countries is increasingly fierce, profound, expanding in space and increasing in intensity and confrontation. The risk of arms race, tension and military conflict is also increasing.

The rise of authoritarianism and narrow nationalism is challenging international law and eroding multilateral institutions and confidence in global cooperation.

Hotspots and conflicts around the world continue to evolve in a complex manner, causing many consequences for global security and economy. Meanwhile, non-traditional security challenges are increasing. Climate change, extreme weather, natural disasters, epidemics, resource depletion and population aging… are threatening to reverse efforts to implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

On the other hand, the explosive development of science and technology, especially emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, blockchain, synthetic biology, etc., is creating fundamental changes in the economic, political, cultural and social life of each country and each citizen. At the same time, this also opens up breakthrough development opportunities for countries.

In the current volatile context, developing countries like Vietnam and Kazakhstan need to come closer together and cooperate closely to respond to common challenges. As peoples who have experienced many ups and downs in history, we understand better than anyone else the value of maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Amidst the difficulties and challenges of more than four decades ago, Vietnam carried out the Doi Moi process and rose up. From a poor, underdeveloped economy heavily dependent on aid, Vietnam has now become one of the 32 largest economies in the world and is among the top 20 countries in attracting foreign investment as well as in terms of trade scale. In terms of foreign affairs, from being besieged and embargoed, Vietnam has now established diplomatic relations with 194 countries, actively participated in more than 70 multilateral forums and international organizations; at the same time, built a network of 35 Strategic Partnership and Comprehensive Partnership frameworks, of which the Strategic Partnership with Kazakhstan is the latest framework.

Under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, we firmly adhere to the goal of "national independence associated with socialism", building a socialist rule-of-law state of the people, by the people and for the people; at the same time, continue to take people as the center and driving force of development.

Vietnam is determined to achieve a breakthrough GDP growth rate of 8% in 2025 and maintain it at double digits in the following years; strive to become a modern industrialized country with an upper middle income by 2030 and a developed country with a high income by 2045.

We link rapid and sustainable economic growth with growth model innovation, improving quality, efficiency and competitiveness on the basis of science - technology, innovation, digital transformation; at the same time, considering high-quality human resource training as the key driving force of development. In that direction, Vietnam is promoting the development of energy infrastructure, transport infrastructure, digital infrastructure; implementing strategic projects such as high-speed railway, North - South expressway, nuclear power plant, and pioneering new fields such as semiconductor industry, core technology, strategic technology and artificial intelligence.

The innovation and reorganization of the political system towards streamlining, effective and efficient operations, along with creating breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation and proactive, active international integration are identified as "three strategic pillars" to carry out the key tasks: "Long-term stability - Sustainable development - Improved living standards".

Regarding foreign affairs and international integration, in the new era of development, Vietnam persistently implements a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, and diversification of relations; is a friend, a reliable partner, and an active, responsible member of the international community. We proactively and actively integrate deeply and comprehensively into the international community; at the same time, we contribute more and more to the world political situation, the global economy, and human civilization.

We support the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law; promote the settlement of disputes by peaceful means; oppose all unilateral actions, imposition, use or threat of force, and implement the 4-no defense policy. At the same time, we consistently support the maintenance of a free, open, and inclusive multilateral trading system based on the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Ladies and gentlemen,

Over the past three decades, the relationship between the two countries has developed strongly in many fields, from politics, economics, culture to education and science and technology.

In recent years, the two sides have maintained regular exchanges of delegations and contacts at high and all levels. We welcome the Kazakhstani leadership considering Vietnam an important partner in Southeast Asia. Economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries has developed positively; bilateral trade turnover in 2024 will reach 800 million USD, an increase of 99% compared to 2023.

The two countries regularly coordinate and support each other at multilateral forums. Cultural, tourism, education-training, and local cooperation have seen many new developments. The close ties connecting the people of the two countries are increasingly strengthened. In particular, the number of Kazakhstani tourists to Vietnam has increased nearly 20 times in 5 years (more than 150,000 people in 2024 compared to 7,000 people in 2019). The two countries also officially opened direct flights from November 2022. On average, there are currently 3-5 direct flights from Kazakhstan to Vietnam.

The above results are extremely positive, and the two countries still have a lot of room to enhance comprehensive and substantive cooperation in all areas. As President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev assessed during his official visit to Vietnam in August 2023: This is a "golden period" in bilateral relations. In that spirit, Vietnam and Kazakhstan have decided to establish a Strategic Partnership framework, affirming the new stature of bilateral relations.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Looking to the future, the Vietnam-Kazakhstan Strategic Partnership needs to be implemented with practical and effective cooperation contents, thereby becoming a model of South-South cooperation between Southeast Asia and Central Asia.

In that spirit, in order to implement the Joint Statement on upgrading Vietnam - Kazakhstan relations, I believe that it is necessary to promote 5 "connections" in cooperation between the two countries in the coming time:

First, people-to-people connections, including connections between leaders of the two countries, connections between agencies and connections between people of the two countries.

Within this framework, the two countries need to enhance regular and substantive political dialogue at high levels, especially between the highest leaders, as well as through all channels of the Party, State, National Assembly and people-to-people exchanges; thereby further enhancing political trust and promoting comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

It is necessary to effectively promote existing cooperation mechanisms, including the Vietnam-Kazakhstan Intergovernmental Committee and the political consultation mechanism between the two foreign ministries. The two sides should also consider establishing new dialogue mechanisms such as defense, security, economic-trade, science-technology and cooperation between localities.

At the same time, the two countries need to promote cooperation in the fields of education, culture, arts and tourism development, thereby enhancing people-to-people exchanges and fostering affection and mutual understanding between the two peoples, especially the younger generation.

Second, connecting the two economies to maximize the potential and strengths of each side.

Vietnam wishes to work with Kazakhstan to promote economic, trade and investment cooperation to become an important pillar of bilateral relations, commensurate with the potential of each country. In particular, the two countries aim to double trade turnover to 5 billion USD by 2030.

We wish to strengthen cooperation with Kazakhstan with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), connect the Central Asian market with ASEAN, and access the European market through Central Asia.

The two countries need to actively study the possibility of expanding the exchange of agricultural products from Kazakhstan and aquatic products from Vietnam, in accordance with the strengths of each country. In addition, it is necessary to promote cooperation in the mining sector - a field with great potential to develop bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

Vietnam also hopes that Kazakhstan will cooperate and share experiences in developing the international financial center model. I look forward to visiting the Astana Financial Center (AIFC) to learn from your valuable experiences.

Third, connecting infrastructure, transportation, as well as cooperation in other potential fields such as energy, to promote the geographical advantages of the two countries.

Recently, many large Vietnamese enterprises have expressed deep interest in Kazakhstan's potential fields such as infrastructure development, railway connection, transportation, energy and oil and gas, and aviation.

The two countries need to take advantage of each region's existing advantages, such as reasonable transportation costs and tariff incentives within the framework of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the EAEU.

At the same time, we hope that the two countries will continue to create conditions for national oil and gas corporations to strengthen cooperation, and introduce potential exploration and exploitation projects to the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PVN). Cooperation in exploration, exploitation and transfer of energy technology can soon become a pillar of cooperation between the two countries.

Fourth, connecting policies through cooperation in education - training, science - technology and innovation.

The two countries need to prioritize cooperation in training high-quality human resources, aiming to build a dynamic young generation with entrepreneurial skills and the ability to integrate in the digital age - a force that will become the driving force for growth and a bridge connecting the future of Vietnam - Kazakhstan.

In the context that both countries attach importance to science and technology development, I expect that research institutes, universities and enterprises of the two countries will increase coordination in joint research programs, especially in green technology, clean energy and new technology.

In particular, it is necessary to promote cooperation between the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Kazakhstan and leading universities in Vietnam in the fields of public administration, economics, international relations and leadership skills. Increasing information exchange, sharing of research and forecasts on issues of mutual interest will bring practical benefits, contributing to raising the bilateral relationship in the new stage of development.

Fifth, inter-regional connectivity, promoting the role and influence of the two countries to expand cooperation between Southeast Asia and Central Asia, while enhancing the position and voice of southern countries.

The two countries need to continue to jointly promote multilateralism and ensure the legitimate interests of developing countries. We support a multipolar, equitable world; support globalization and free trade for the common interests of the international community. At the same time, the two countries need to proactively and actively work with the international community to address global challenges such as climate change, energy security, water security, food security, as well as prevent and combat terrorism and transnational crime.

In the spirit of active cooperation, Vietnam and Kazakhstan will continue to coordinate and support each other at international organizations and multilateral forums, such as the United Nations, the CICA Forum and the Non-Aligned Movement. As an active member of ASEAN, Vietnam welcomes all efforts to promote cooperation between ASEAN and Kazakhstan, and is ready to act as a bridge to strengthen and deepen relations between ASEAN, Southeast Asia and Central Asia in a practical, effective and mutually beneficial manner.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Once again, I would like to express my admiration for the socio-economic achievements that Kazakhstan has made in recent years, including the important contributions of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Kazakhstan. I am confident that the Academy will continue to play a key role in promoting education and scientific progress in Kazakhstan and in the region.

The Kazakh people have a profound proverb: "A tree stands firm thanks to its roots, a person stands firm thanks to his friends." That spirit was also affirmed by President Ho Chi Minh - the beloved leader of the Vietnamese people - with his immortal teachings: "Unity, unity, great unity; Success, success, great success".

The spirit of friendship, solidarity and sincere cooperation is the strong bond between Vietnam and Kazakhstan in the new era.

I strongly believe that, with the efforts of both sides, especially the young generations, representing the future of the two countries, the Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Kazakhstan will continue to develop strongly, flying high like "eagle wings on the Saryarka steppe", becoming a bridge to promote cooperation between the two regions of Southeast Asia and Central Asia, bringing benefits to the people of the two countries and contributing to peace and stability in the region and the world.

Wishing you all good health, happiness and success!

Thank you very much!

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/phat-bieu-cua-tong-bi-thu-to-lam-tai-hoc-vien-hanh-chinh-cong-kazakhstan-2398467.html