Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has expressed his belief that the ongoing state visit to Kazakhstan by General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam will open up strategic space for cooperation and promote comprehensive collaboration across all fields in the new context.

The visit, therefore, will contribute to consolidating and strengthening the traditional friendship between the two countries, Son said in an interview with the Kazakhstani press.

Asked about valuable historical lessons that have shaped Vietnam’s current foreign policy, the official stressed that they remain fully relevant and continue to guide Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era – the era of the nation’s rise.

He elaborated on the lessons that are ensuring the nation’s interests to the highest extent; combining the strength of the nation with the strength of the times; ensuring close coordination between foreign affairs and national defence, security, and other sectors in the formulation and implementation of foreign policy; and integrating into the world, making international integration a driving force for national development and a shared endeavour of the entire political system and the people.

Son reaffirmed that the lessons continue to shape Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era, aligning with the international context and helping the country further assert and elevate its position on the global stage. About principles and policy adjustments that enable Vietnam to maintain a balance among major powers in today’s complicated context, Son reiterated Vietnam's consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of external ties, being a friend, a reliable partner, and a responsible member of the international community, actively and proactively engaging in comprehensive and extensive international integration.

According to the official, the guiding principles of Vietnam’s foreign policy are to ensure the nation’s interests at the highest based on the United Nations Charter and international law; to resolutely and persistently struggle to firmly safeguard national independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity; and to respond to changing circumstances to preserve peace and stability in service of national development and defence.

At the same time, Vietnam pursues a national defence policy of “Four No’s”: no military alliances; no siding with one country against another; no foreign military bases or use of Vietnamese territory to oppose other countries; and no use or threat to use force in international relations.

On such basis, despite global and regional volatilities, he said Vietnam has fostered an expansive foreign policy environment, maintaining diplomatic ties with 194 countries and active membership in more than 70 international and multilateral forums. Vietnam has built a network of strategic and comprehensive partnerships with 34 countries and maintained substantive, positive cooperation with major powers, including strategic partnerships or higher with all permanent members of the UN Security Council. Moreover, Vietnam is making increasingly active and responsible contributions to addressing global challenges and shared international concerns, while promoting ASEAN’s centrality in the regional security architecture.The Deputy PM went on noting that despite geographical distance, Vietnam and Kazakhstan have maintained strong traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation, which has grown robustly and effectively in recent years, especially in the fields of economy, trade, and investment.

According to the official, Kazakhstan is currently Vietnam’s second-largest trading partner within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). In 2024, two-way trade exceeded 800 million USD, doubling the 2023 figure. In the first quarter of 2025, bilateral trade value hit 146.3 million USD, up 18.4% year-on-year.

The two countries maintain an Intergovernmental Commission for trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation, which has so far convened 11 sessions alternately to coordinate and promote their joint activities in the fields. Both sides are effectively implementing their governments’ joint action plan for economic and trade cooperation for 2023–2025, while also working towards the establishment of a Vietnamese trade representation office in Kazakhstan and of a bilateral business council.

Although the number of investment projects on each other's territory remains modest, it has been steadily increasing in recent times, indicating that the Kazakh market is becoming more attractive to Vietnamese enterprises. Tourism cooperation and people-to-people exchange are also on the rise, with 21 direct flights per week and approximately 150,000 Kazakh tourists visiting Vietnam last year.

Son highlighted the vast potential for deeper cooperation. To enhance economic, trade and investment ties, he proposed improving transportation connectivity, particularly in rail transport.

He said Vietnam and Kazakhstan have complementary export structures, meaning Vietnamese goods like farm produce, seafood, garment-textile, footwear, and electronics can find markets in Kazakhstan and transit through it to other destinations via East–West and North–South transport corridors.

In addition, Son noted that both countries have opportunities to expand collaboration in finance, energy, mining, education, science-technology, as well as in emerging sectors such as digital technology, clean energy, new materials, and artificial intelligence (AI).The official stated that cooperation to promote sustainable development and climate change response, though relatively new, has gained significant attention from both countries and was included in the joint statement on the establishment of Vietnam-Kazakhstan Strategic Partnership during the Party chief's state visit.

Against the backdrop of increasing non-traditional security challenges, particularly climate change, the two countries are well-positioned to develop a deeper and more substantive cooperation framework aimed at long-term sustainable development.

Son said the two countries boast a solid political foundation and shared commitments to global initiatives such as the Paris Agreement on climate change, adding the partnership draws strength from complementary expertise, with Vietnam having valuable experience in disaster response and sustainable agriculture development, while Kazakhstan has knowledge in water resource management and renewable energy development.

However, differences in natural conditions, financial capabilities, technological readiness, institutional frameworks, and environmental management approaches present obstacles that both countries must jointly address. He also laid stress on the need to transform the new cooperation into practical programmes and projects.

Vietnam wishes to join hands with Kazakhstan to establish collaboration initiatives ranging from scientific research, green technology transfer, and circular economy development to high-quality human resources training in environmental and climate change fields.

Both sides also hope to advance joint initiatives at international forums, helping raise the voice of developing nations in creating a more sustainable and inclusive development framework in the future./.VNA