Hanoi (VNA) - Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Adylbek Aleshovich Kasymaliev arrived in Hanoi on March 5 evening, beginning his official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh.
This is the first visit to Vietnam by a Kyrgyz prime minister since the two countries established diplomatic relations. The trip is expected to promote friendship ties and deepen bilateral cooperation in all fields between the two nations.
The Kyrgyz delegation was welcomed at the Noi Bai International Airport by Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, and Vietnamese Ambassador to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Pham Thai Nhu Mai.
Economic and trade cooperation between the two nations has seen encouraging progress. From 2017 to 2021, two-way trade averaged 1.36 million USD annually. Recent years have witnessed significant growth, with trade reaching 4.5 million USD in 2022, 7.5 million USD in 2023, and 13.5 million USD in 2024.
Vietnam’s key exports to Kyrgyzstan include pepper, tea, cashew nuts, computers, electronics, and components, while Kyrgyzstan exports machinery, equipment, tobacco products, silk, and alcoholic beverages to Vietnam. Both countries have leveraged the FTA between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union to boost trade.
Kyrgyzstan is among the few countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region and the world to unilaterally grant Vietnamese citizens a 60-day visa exemption, facilitating greater business and tourism exchanges.
In terms of investment, as of October 31, 2024, Kyrgyzstan had run one investment project in Vietnam's Khanh Hoa province. The project, valued at 5 million USD, focuses on the production and trade of alcoholic beverages. Kyrgyzstan currently ranks 83rd among 148 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.
The Vietnamese community in Kyrgyzstan remains relatively small, with around 100 people, including three families who have obtained Kyrgyz citizenship. They maintain close ties with the homeland and actively contribute to strengthening bilateral relations.
PM Kasimalyev’s official visit to Vietnam is expected to mark a new chapter in Vietnam-Kyrgyzstan relations, deepening their traditional friendship and unlocking cooperation potential in key sectors./.
