The event, organised by the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Vietnam, also marked the establishment of the Vietnam - Azerbaijan Strategic Partnership, following the May 2025 State visit to Azerbaijan by Party General Secretary To Lam.

In his welcome speech, Azerbaijani Ambassador Shovgi Mehdizada highlighted the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on May 28, 2018, the first in the Muslim East fulfilling the ancestors’ dream of a free, independent, and sovereign state. The country continues to raise its profile globally, as reflected in its ability to host major international events, including the successful COP29 conference held in Baku last November.

This year’s celebration is particularly meaningful thanks to the formal establishment of the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Vietnam during General Secretary To Lam’s state visit, at the invitation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The Ambassador emphasised the visit’s success and the mutual commitment of both countries to deepening their historic friendship, especially in economic and cultural fields.

Over the past 65 years, he noted, Azerbaijan and Vietnam have maintained strong and friendly relations, serving as a solid foundation and powerful motivation to foster bilateral cooperation.  With the strong will and determination of the two countries’ leaders, the traditional friendship, multifaceted cooperation, and Strategic Partnership between Azerbaijan and Vietnam would continue to develop and grow stronger, said the Ambassador.

Taking the floor, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Anh Tuan extended warm congratulations to the government and people of Azerbaijan on Independence Day, saying from a newly independent state in 1918, Azerbaijan has advanced significantly in socio-economic development, becoming a key energy and trade hub in the region and strengthening its position in the Caucasus and Western Asia.

He recalled the long-standing friendship between Vietnam and Azerbaijan marked by Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh’s visit in 1959 and the development of bilateral relations following the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1992. Over the past 30 years of diplomatic ties, he said, both countries have achieved significant progress, with growing political and diplomatic cooperation and frequent high-level exchanges across Party, state, parliamentary, and people-to-people channels.

Tuan affirmed that the Party and State of Vietnam greatly value the traditional relationship and comprehensive cooperation with Azerbaijan and view it as an important partner in the region. Vietnam always remembers and deeply appreciates the valuable support of the Azerbaijani people during Vietnam's struggle for independence and national unification, as well as in its ongoing development.

He expressed his belief that with the strong foundation, political determination, and ongoing efforts, the Vietnam - Azerbaijan relationship would continue to flourish, in the interest of both peoples and for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world at large.

The concert featured performances by Azerbaijani opera singer and People’s Artist Fidan Hajiyeva and conductor and People’s Artist Fakhraddin Karimov. The programme included classics like the Overture to the opera Koroglu, the romantic song Sevgili Canan, Habanera from the opera Carmen, as well as Vietnamese-themed works including those in tribute to the Dien Bien Phu Victory in 1954 and the song Xin Chào Việt Nam (Hello Vietnam).

Vietnam, Azerbaijan seek to turn strategic partnership into concrete cooperation

VOV.VN - Vietnamese and Azerbaijani diplomats have discussed ways to translate their newly upgraded strategic partnership into practical cooperation across key sectors, from trade and energy to party diplomacy and transport connectivity.