Astana (VNA) - Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, who accompanied Party General Secretary To Lam in a state visit to Kazakhstan, had a meeting with his Kazakh counterpart Murat Nurtleu in Astana on May 7 to discuss measures to promote cooperation between the two countries.
During their discussions, Nurtleu emphasised the historic significance of General Secretary Lam’s visit, describing it as a milestone that sets a clear framework for elevating the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Kazakhstan to new heights.
He praised the outcomes of the Vietnamese Party chief’s productive talks and meetings held over the past two days between General Secretary To Lam and Kazakhstan’s leaders. Nurtleu expressed his belief that the upgrade of bilateral ties to a strategic partnership will pave the way for broader and deeper collaboration across all key areas.
For his part, Son thanked Nurtleu and Kazakh peers for their coordination and thoughtful preparation for the Vietnamese leader’s first visit to the Central Asian country.
He noted that the visit marked a new stage of enhanced political trust and reflected the shared determination of both sides to advance bilateral relations. A particularly symbolic moment was President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev personally greeting General Secretary Lam and his spouse at the foot of aircraft stairs, a gesture highlighting both the personal ties between leaders and Kazakhstan’s strong regard for Vietnam and the bilateral relations.
The two sides agreed on the importance of developing a detailed action plan and roadmap to implement the newly established strategic partnership and freshly-signed agreements effectively. They committed to ensuring the timely and substantive execution of high-level agreements, encouraging government agencies, ministries, and local authorities to exchange working delegations and jointly explore cooperation projects. These efforts will include negotiating and signing new agreements to establish a robust legal framework for closer collaboration in priority sectors such as trade and investment, transportation and logistics, agriculture, energy, mining, defence and security, cultural and educational exchange, tourism, labour cooperation, and inter-regional connectivity.
They also supported the strengthening of existing cooperation mechanisms and proposed the creation of new consultation frameworks in areas of mutual interest and potential, based on prior high-level agreements.
Commending the recent progress in cooperation between the two Foreign Ministries, the two sides agreed to maintain the Deputy Minister-level Political Consultation mechanism and increasing regular exchanges between their respective ministries. They also agreed to continue meeting on the sidelines of international conferences and multilateral forums to coordinate positions, review bilateral cooperation, and help drive the implementation of joint programmes and agreements.
Both sides praised their growing coordination and mutual support at international organisations and multilateral forums. They agreed to continue sharing information, aligning positions on regional and global issues, and supporting each other’s initiatives and candidacies in the United Nations and other international bodies.
On this occasion, Deputy PM Bui Thanh Son extended an invitation to Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu to visit Vietnam at a convenient time, and the later accepted the invitation with pleasure./.
See more
NA Chairman chairs meeting on preparations for 16th NA’s first session
The 16th National Assembly’s first session will elect finalise key state leadership positions, including the State President, Prime Minister, NA Chairman, NA vice chairpersons, Deputy PMs, Cabinet members, members of the NA Standing Committee, head of the NA Council for Ethnic Affairs and heads of NA committees.
PM’s Russia visit yields substantive outcomes: Deputy FM
During Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to Russia on March 22-25, Vietnam and Russia reached strong consensus on deepening political trust and mutual understanding, building on their long-standing traditional friendship.
📝OP-ED: 14th Party Central Committee’s second plenum: Substantive governance to drive breakthroughs
Accordingly, the Party Central Committee outlined four core requirements, all centred on a single question: how to make the system operate more accurately, efficiently, and with greater real-world impact.
Vietnamese ambassador presents credentials to French President
Vietnam and France agreed on the need for closer cooperation to ensure global food and energy security, while coordinating effectively at regional and multilateral forums.
Vietnamese naval ship completes mission at Kakadu Exercise 2026
Ship 016–Quang Trung of Brigade 162 under Naval Region 4 departed Sydney Harbour on the morning of March 25 for home after successfully completing activities within the framework of the Exercise Kakadu Fleet Review 2026 marking the 125th anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy and the multilateral naval exercise Kakadu 2026.
PM arrives in Hanoi, concluding official visit to Russia
With the outcomes achieved and strong implementation efforts by both sides, the Vietnam – Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is expected to grow further, contributing to socio-economic development in each country as well as to peace, friendship and cooperation in the region and the world.
☀️ Morning digest on March 26
The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.
Vietnamese Prime Minister meets Russian President in Moscow
President Putin said Vietnam remains a sincere friend and an important partner of Russia in the Asia-Pacific, stressing that Russia attaches importance to further deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
Vietnamese, Philippine foreign ministers hold phone talks
They agreed to further elevate cooperation across all areas, including politics, diplomacy, defence, security, economy, and people-to-people exchanges, contributing to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries (July 12, 1976 – 2026).
Deputy PM receives Cambodian Minister of Cult and Religion in Hanoi
Deputy PM Mai Van Chinh welcomed Cambodian Minister of Cult and Religion Chay Borin and his entourage on their working visit to Vietnam to implement the cooperation agreement between Vietnam’s Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and Cambodia’s Ministry of Cult and Religion for the 2026–2030 period.
Nguyen Dinh Thang prosecuted on terrorism charge, urged to surrender
According to the indictment dated March 9, Thang, born on March 9, 1958, is prosecuted under Clause 2, Article 299. Before fleeing abroad, he resided at 14/40C Ky Dong street, Nhieu Loc ward, Ho Chi Minh City.
95th anniversary of Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union marked in Laos
Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam described Vietnamese and Lao youth as the “architects” of the future of bilateral ties and called on young Vietnamese in Laos to strengthen their political awareness, pioneer digital transformation and entrepreneurship, and act as ambassadors of friendship between the two countries' people.
Vietnam seeks deeper cooperation with Russian region
Vietnam seeks deeper cooperation with Russian region
Vietnam, Cambodia foster friendship, solidarity
At a meeting on March 25 at the headquarters of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces High Command, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Minh Vu conveyed his best New Year wishes to General Vong Pisen and all officers and soldiers of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.
Vietnam actively contributes to cooperation, solidarity in Francophone community
Vietnam views the Francophone space not merely as a linguistic sphere but also as one of sharing, solidarity and collective action for common international goals.
Vietnam, China sign cooperation agreement on planning two railways
Regarding the Hanoi – Dong Dang and Hai Phong – Ha Long – Mong Cai projects, the Chinese side said it will follow the model of the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong line, while ensuring quality and progress with the highest level of responsibility.
Vietnam, Chile exchange congratulatory messages on 55 years of diplomatic relations
State President Luong Cuong has exchanged messages of congratulations with Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast, on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relations (March 25, 1971 – 2026).
PM works with leading Russian infrastructure enterprises
At the meeting with AFK Sistema Chairman Vladimir Petrovich Evtushenkov and the group’s executives, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hailed the corporation’s proactive engagement with major Vietnamese enterprises to promote cooperation programmes in recent times.
PM meets leaders of Russia–Vietnam Friendship Association, Russian War Veterans
The Vietnamese leader stressed that Vietnam deeply values the steadfast and wholehearted support of the Soviet people in the past and Russians today during its struggle for independence and reunification, as well as in its ongoing national construction and defence.
☕ Afternoon briefing on March 25
The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.