Kazakhstan Ambassador to Vietnam, Beketzhan Zhumakhanov, summarised his country’s major new economic policy at a seminar in Hanoi on March 12.

The target of the policy, named ‘Nurly Zhol’ (The Path to the Future), is to transform Kazakhstan into one of the five fastest-growing countries in Asia, the diplomat explained, adding that the nation also has ambitions of joining the top 50 most competitive countries in the world.

The policy covers developing transport and industrial infrastructure, energy, modernising public housing service infrastructure, supplying clean water and supporting small-and medium-sized enterprises, he noted.

The efforts will help Kazakhstan to improve the local living standards and increase the quality of social welfare policies, he said.

He proposed that Vietnam and Kazakhstan promote exchanges in the fields of culture, education, science and health.

The Ambassador said he welcomes all Vietnamese students who want to pursue higher education in Kazakhstan , adding that this will open up sustainable opportunities for the strengthening of the two nation’s cooperation in various areas.

Nguyen Quang Thuan, Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, said Kazakhstan is a potential country which has an important strategic position in the middle of Asia and the Asia-Europe continents.

The two countries have coordinated in wide-ranging fields such as politics, economics and culture since the establishment of diplomatic relations 20 years ago, he said.

Their bilateral trade currently tops 100 million USD per year.

A free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan is expected to open new doors for the two nations as they enhance their comprehensive cooperative ties across many sectors, he added.-VNA