Baku, Hanoi ties rapidly developing
By Sara Rajabova
Azerbaijani and Vietnamese officials have praised the development of relations between the two countries.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov received a visiting Vietnamese delegation led by member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Vietnam, permanent member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee Communist Party Le Hong Anh on October 13, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported.
Hong Anh stressed the importance of the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev`s visit to Hanoi.
He said the Azerbaijani president`s visit to Vietnam made a considerable contribution to the development of bilateral relations between the two countries.
Hong Anh added that there were good opportunities for the expansion of ties between the two countries.
He noted the importance of the visits of two sides' delegations and the expansion of a legal framework of cooperation.
He praised Vietnamese-Azerbaijani relations, saying the two countries maintained successful cooperation in international organizations.
Mammadyarov hailed the two countries` relations as "rapidly developing" ones.
He referred to national leader Heydar Aliyev`s visit to Vietnam during the Soviet Union, and also lauded the role of President Aliyev`s state visit to Vietnam in deepening the bilateral ties.
Mammadyarov also highlighted the current state of peace talks to solve the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, saying the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from Azerbaijan`s occupied lands was a critical condition for the settlement of the dispute.
Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijani government, Deputy Chairman of the ruling party "New Azerbaijan", Ali Akhmedov also received the Vietnamese delegation on October 13.
The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Executive Secretary of the ruling party "New Azerbaijan", Deputy of Parliament Siyavush Novruzov, Head of international relations of NAP, MP Asef Hajiyev.
During the meeting, the sides discussed issues of bilateral cooperation between the party "New Azerbaijan" and the communist party of Vietnam.
Akhmedov said the visit of the Vietnamese delegation will serve as an incentive for expansion of cooperation between the peoples and the ruling parties of Azerbaijan and Vietnam
For his part, Hong Anh expressed satisfaction with his visit to the country and said Azerbaijan is a well-known and respected country in Vietnam.
He expressed interest in further development of cooperation between the two countries and the ruling parties of Azerbaijan and Vietnam.
Earlier, President Aliyev received the Vietnamese delegation led by Hong Anh. The sides discussed the development of the cooperation between the two countries in a variety of areas.
The sides also exchanged views on issues of mutual interest.
Vietnam recognized Azerbaijan's independence in December 1991. The two countries established diplomatic relations in September 1992. Azerbaijan officially opened its embassy in Hanoi in December 2013. 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.
Vietnam - Azerbaijan relations have been fraternal and traditional. There is no outstanding issue between the two countries. During the Soviet times, Azerbaijan helped Vietnam educate and train many students and officials at graduate level, especially in oil and gas industry.