Azerbaijan, Vietnam sign cultural co-op program
By Nigar Orujova
Azerbaijan and Vietnam have signed their first cultural cooperation program during the visit of a Vietnamese delegation to Baku.
The document was inked by Azerbaijani Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfaz Garayev and Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh on July 2.
Garayev welcomed the visiting Vietnamese delegation saying that an Azerbaijani delegation headed by President Ilham Aliyev paid a visit to Vietnam in May. "This was the first high-level visit in the history of the Azerbaijan-Vietnam relations. During the visit, the two countries signed documents in several areas," he said.
"I am glad Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh came to Azerbaijan to continue and expand cooperation between the two countries," Garayev said.
He added the ministries of the two states are preparing the documents on cooperation, which will determine its direction.
"These documents will be signed by Azerbaijan's Culture and Tourism, and Youth and Sports Ministries. The visit of the Vietnamese delegation is an important step in expanding two sides' cooperation. I am grateful to the embassies of both countries for the strengthening of ties. We have common positions on cultural exchange, as well as exchange of experiences. Development of such relations is very important in the contemporary cultural globalization," Garayev said.
The Vietnamese delegation will visit the capital and regions of Azerbaijan, and get closely acquainted with the country.
Hoang Tuan Anh said that the visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Vietnam left an unforgettable impression on the country. He also recalled that the national leader Heydar Aliyev paid great attention to relations with Vietnam in the 1970-80s and the Vietnamese people will never forget this help.
The sides also discussed prospects of relations between Azerbaijan and Vietnam, as well as issues of mutual interest.
Azerbaijani-Vietnam cooperation is fast developing. Azerbaijan opened its embassy in Vietnam last December, while the Azerbaijan-Vietnam inter-parliamentary friendship group was established in Hanoi in November 2013.
In October 2013, Vietnam simplified the visa regime for Azerbaijani citizens, making it possible for Azerbaijani citizens to obtain a visa upon arrival at Vietnam's airports.