Hanoi (VNA) – National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan has
expressed wish that two-way trade between Vietnam and Kazakhstan will be
boosted, as will links across security, education-training, culture and
tourism.
During
a meeting with Chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan Kassym Zhomart Tokayev in Astana,
the capital city of Kazakhstan on October 17, Ngan informed the host about the
outcomes of her talks with Chairman of the Mazhilis of the Parliament (Lower
House) of Kazakhstan Nurlan Nigmatulin, saying that both sides agreed on
specific cooperation contents to boost ties between the two legislatures and
multi-dimensional cooperation between the two countries.
She
asked for reviewing the outcomes of the one-year implementation of the
Vietnam-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (Vietnam-EAEU FTA) and
effectively upholding Vietnam-Kazakhstan Inter-Governmental Committee
mechanism.
In
the near future, she suggested that both sides should finalize the contents of
the agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons for the early signing, boost
joint work in line with the education-training cooperation agreement signed in
September 2009 and the supplementary Protocol signed in November 2011,
effectively realise the tourism agreement signed in November 2011 and related
deals.
The
Vietnamese legislature wants to strengthen ties with the Kazakh parliament at
regional and global forums, she said.
On
the occasion, she informed Kazakh Senate Chairman that the 14th Vietnamese NA has established the Vietnam – Kazakhstan Friendship
Parliamentarians’ Group to help with linking the two law-making bodies together.
The
Vietnamese NA leader proposed upholding consultation mechanism and mutual
support at multilateral parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary
Union and the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum. She asked for discussing
regional and global issues of shared concern, facilitating the exchange of
all-level visits and monitoring the implementation of agreements signed between
the two nations.
Tokayev,
for his part, hailed the significance of the first visit made by a Vietnamese
NA leader to the country.
He
said the two countries’ two-way trade rose to 375 million USD in the first
eight months this year from 370 million USD in 2016. The figure is estimated at
450 million USD this year, which he said, is still below the two countries’
potential. He asked for more active involvement of legislators in pushing their
governments to promote trade.
The
host agreed with the Vietnamese leader on fully tapping incentives and
opportunities brought about by the Vietnam-EAEU FTA. The two sides could export
and import goods of strength and demand, he suggested.
Kazakhstan
welcomes small- and medium-sized Vietnamese enterprises to do business in the
country, he said, adding that the two nations will continue working closely
together to celebrate the 25th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic
ties this year.
He
also took the occasion to invite Vietnam to attend the sixth Congress of the
Leaders of World and Traditional Religions slated for October 2018 in the
country.-VNA