Vietnam and Uzbekistan Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation Through Political Consultation
Tashkent, The Gulf Observer: Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Thị Thu Hằng visited Uzbekistan from March 3-4 for a political consultation at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan.
On March 4, Hằng co-chaired the consultation alongside her Uzbek counterpart, I. Khaydarov. Both sides reviewed their respective socio-economic developments and expressed satisfaction with the growing traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two nations.
The deputy ministers agreed to enhance bilateral relations across various sectors, utilizing each country’s strengths and potential to contribute to national and regional development. They stressed the importance of strengthening exchanges through Party, State, parliamentary, and people-to-people diplomacy channels.
Expanding Economic and Trade Cooperation
Trade between Vietnam and Uzbekistan has grown by approximately 25% annually since 2021. In 2024 alone, bilateral trade exceeded $200 million, marking a 26.5% annual increase. However, both officials acknowledged that these figures do not yet fully reflect the two countries’ potential and aspirations.
To bridge this gap, they pledged to facilitate business and investment cooperation, particularly in oil and gas, mining, and agricultural product processing. They also emphasized the importance of enhanced collaboration in science and technology, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, education, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. Initiatives such as cultural events, research-sharing programs, scholarship opportunities, and Vietnamese language courses in Uzbekistan’s universities will be further promoted.
Political and Multilateral Cooperation
The two sides agreed to maintain regular political consultations and strengthen direct and online exchanges between their ministries to effectively coordinate and promote bilateral relations.
Discussing global and regional developments, the deputy ministers lauded Vietnam and Uzbekistan’s foreign policies of openness, balance, diversification, and multilateralization. They stressed the importance of close coordination and mutual support in international organizations and multilateral forums, including the United Nations, to promote peace, stability, cooperation, and development.
Hằng reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to serving as a bridge between ASEAN and Uzbekistan, as well as between Uzbekistan and regional organizations.
She also expressed gratitude to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for supporting the Vietnamese community in Uzbekistan and called for continued assistance. The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs will work closely with Uzbek authorities to facilitate travel, residency, education, investment, and business opportunities for their citizens and safeguard their legitimate rights and interests.
During her visit, Hằng met with Uzbek Foreign Minister B. Saidov and First Deputy Chairman of the Uzbek Senate S. Safoev. Saidov pledged closer coordination in preparing for high-level visits, while Safoev affirmed Uzbekistan’s commitment to strengthening inter-parliamentary ties with Vietnam, suggesting the establishment of a Vietnam-Uzbekistan parliamentary friendship group.
Hằng also visited Technopark Industrial Park in Tashkent, where Uzbek officials expressed their interest in attracting Vietnamese investors through future preferential policies.
