Azernews.Az

By Nigar Abbasova

Azerbaijan and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam intend to strengthen the bilateral cooperation in the spheres of energy, transport, trade, and agriculture.

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Vietnam Anar Imanov told Trend that the Vietnamese government has certain proposals in this regard.

The proposals are expected to be discussed during the first meeting of the Azerbaijan-Vietnam Intergovernmental Commission for Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, planned to be held in the near future.

Imanov mentioned that a specific date for the meeting is currently being agreed by the sides.

Energy Minister Natig Aliyev is the co-chair of the commission from the Azerbaijani side, and Industry and Trade Minister Tran Tuan Anh is the co-chair of the commission from the Vietnamese side, while various agencies are represented in the committee at the level of deputy ministers.

The Azerbaijani diplomat mentioned that the format of intergovernmental commissions is an exception to rules for Vietnam. He clarified that intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation of Vietnam with different countries, as a rule, headed by the country’s deputy minister of industry and trade, while different agencies are represented in these commissions only at the level of directors or deputy directors of departments.

Imanov underlined that higher level of representation for the commission with Azerbaijan shows the importance the Vietnamese side attaches to the cooperation with Azerbaijan.

He expressed confidence that significant positive developments in the trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation between the two countries will take place with the start of work of the intergovernmental commission, mentioning that intergovernmental commission will be an excellent platform to discuss ways to promote bilateral cooperation between our countries.

The trade turnover between the countries totaled $51.9 million in the first half 2016, with some $47.4 million accounting for the Azerbaijani side, and $4.5 million for Vietnam.

The envoy mentioned that the two countries spare no efforts to increase the turnover and develop the bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

The cooperation between the countries is developing steadily in all spheres. Memorandum of understanding, signed by Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR and Vietnam Oil and Gas Group Petrovietnam, contributes to the development of energy cooperation between the sides.

The countries also have a potential for cooperation on alternative and renewable energy sources. Moreover, Vietnamese market is attractive for the export of Azerbaijan’s non-oil products.

The diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Vietnam were established on September 23, 1992. Azerbaijan opened its embassy in Vietnam in 2013.

Currently, the bilateral relations are coordinated by the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia, which is also accredited in Azerbaijan.

But the Vietnamese government is considering opening an embassy in Baku with a view to give additional impetus to the development of the bilateral cooperation.

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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

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