The meeting was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang and his Uzbek counterpart, I. Khaydarov.

Both sides expressed their pleasure at the positive developments in the traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries. They acknowledged their relevant ministries and agencies’ effort in concretising high-level agreements, especially those reached during the meeting between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the sidelines of the BRICS+ Summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024.

Both diplomats agreed on the need for the two sides to continue close coordination to foster bilateral relations in all fields, thereby maximizing each other’s potential and advantages, and contributing to the development of both countries and their respective regions. They vowed to promote reciprocal visit exchanges in 2025 and 2026 to strengthen political trust and mutual understanding, laying the foundation and direction for cooperation in other areas.

The two Deputy Foreign Ministers noted that trade between the two countries is growing positively, with an average annual growth rate of about 25% since 2021. Last year alone saw bilateral trade hit US$200 million, marking a 26.5% increase compared to 2023. Since the direct flight route between the two countries was established, over 20,000 Uzbek tourists have visited Vietnam in 2024.

However, they held that trade cooperation is yet on par with both countries’ potential and aspirations. They therefore consented to further create opportunities for Vietnamese and Uzbek businesses to cooperate, invest, and explore opportunities in sectors such as oil and gas, mining, and agricultural product processing.

Both sides agreed on the need to boost cooperation in high-tech, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, education, culture, tourism, people-to-people exchanges, as well as cooperation between localities, through experience sharing in research and application, organization of cultural days, tourism promotion, and the teaching of Vietnamese language at universities in Uzbekistan.

They also agreed to maintain regular political consultations, direct meetings, and online exchanges between the leaders of both Foreign Ministries to further enhance coordination and relations.

Exchanging views on regional and global issues, both Deputy Foreign Ministers praised the open, balanced, diversified, and multilateral foreign policies of Vietnam and Uzbekistan. They held that in the rapidly changing and complex global context, the two countries need to continue close coordination, exchange viewpoints, share information, and support each other at international organizations and multilateral forums.

Hang affirmed that Vietnam is ready to act as a bridge to strengthen ASEAN-Uzbekistan relations and cooperation with regional organizations of which Uzbekistan is a member.

On this occasion, she requested that Uzbekistan continue to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese community to live, study and work in their host country. She also affirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam would work closely with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies to facilitate the movement, residence, study, and business opportunities for citizens of both countries, and to ensure the protection of the legitimate rights and interests of their citizens and entities in each other’s territories.

The same day, Deputy Minister Hang met with Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister B. Saidov and First Deputy Speaker of the Senate S. Safoev who expressed Uzbekistan’s desire to further develop its tradtional friendship and cooperative relations with Vietnam.

Vietnam, Uzbekistan deepen ties with focus on win-win cooperation

VOV.VN - Vietnam always values and desires to strengthen its friendship and win-win cooperation with its traditional partners, including Uzbekistan, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang stated during her phone talks with Uzbek counterpart Ilkhom Khaydarov on January 7.