Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

Azerbaijan officially opened its embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam on December 16.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by members of the Vietnam National Assembly, officials of the government including foreign ministry, top-ranking representatives of the Vietnam Communist Party, and Vietnamese alumni of the Azerbaijani universities, as well as diplomats, representatives of the NGOs, and journalists.

Addressing the ceremony, Azerbaijan's ambassador Anar Imanov said Azerbaijan - which combines Western democratic values and Eastern culture and national values - is a multinational and tolerant country hosting different ethnic and religious groups.

Imanov further referred to the country's economic, legal, social, scientific, and educational developments, as well as its democratic reforms.

He also talked about implementation of major energy and transportation projects.

"Azerbaijan places a particular emphasis on building friendly and close relations with other nations," he added, noting that Azerbaijan-Vietnam relations are an example of that.

The ambassador went on to note that Azerbaijani oil specialists share their experience with their Vietnamese counterparts.

He highlighted broad opportunities for cultivating political, economic, tourism, cultural, and scientific cooperation between the two countries, adding high-level reciprocal visits will lay groundwork for this.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Vietnam Bui Thanh Son, for his part, described opening of the Azerbaijani embassy as a historic move between the two countries.

He pointed out that the foundation of the Azerbaijan-Vietnam relations was laid in 1959 during Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh`s visit to Azerbaijan and national leader Heydar Aliyev`s visit to Vietnam in 1983.

He added many of Vietnamese who were educted in Azerbaijan are now working in the state sector and large companies.

Son noted there are good opportunities for deepening bilateral cooperation, adding his country is interested in enhancing effectiveness of contacts between the two nations.

The ceremony was followed with a concert of classical music composed by renowned composers from Azerbaijan, Vietname, and other parts of the world.

Azerbaijani-Vietnam cooperation is developing. The Azerbaijan-Vietnam inter-parliamentary friendship group was established in Hanoi in November. The group includes six members of Vietnam's National Assembly.

In October, Vietnam simplified the visa regime for Azerbaijani citizens, making it possible for Azerbaijani citizens to obtain a visa upon arrival at Vietnam's airports.

Vietnam does not have an embassy in Azerbaijan, which has made it difficult for Azerbaijani citizens to obtain visas. According to the new rules, Azerbaijani citizens only need to provide the relevant documents given by the Vietnamese travel agencies regarding their trip in order to get a visa.