Vietnam considers Kazakhstan important partner in Central Asia - President Truong Tan Sang
First let me thank you for agreeing to this interview. What is the agenda for the Nazarbayev's visit to Vietnam? Is it planned to sign any documents?
The first visit of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev to Vietnam opens a new stage in developing bilateral relations. We will have talks and attend ceremonies of signing of a number of cooperation agreements. Also, President Nazarbayev will visit industrial facilities and historical and cultural sights in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, meet with Vietnamese students.
Looking forward to raising the bilateral relationship to a new height, the sides will discuss bilateral cooperation issues, measures to further enhance cooperation in political, economic, scientific - technical, education, sport and cultural fields, as well as interaction within international and regional forums. A package of documents in the fields of finance, agriculture, tourism, education, justice is planned to be signed.
I am confident that the visit of Mr. Nazarbayev to Vietnam will be successful and will intensify the development of political relations and cooperation in various fields, including trade and economic.
What are the prospects for Kazakhstan-Vietnam political and economic cooperation as a whole?
Vietnam has always attached maximum importance to its relationship with traditional friends, including Kazakhstan. Vietnam considers Kazakhstan an important partner in the post-Soviet space and in Central Asia.
Vietnam and Kazakhstan enjoy close political ties based on friendship between our peoples. We see positive dynamics of bilateral relations after the official visit of Vietnam's Prime Minister to Kazakhstan in September 2009. The two sides signed a joint action plan between Vietnam and Kazakhstan for 2011-2013 aimed at strengthening political and trade-economic cooperation.
Vietnam and Kazakhstan closely cooperate within the framework of various regional and international structures: UN, CICA.
Vietnam welcomes Kazakhstan's decision to open diplomatic representation in our country. This will create new opportunities for developing bilateral relations as well as cooperation in the international arena.
Our countries have big potential for economic cooperation. Vietnam is looking forward to importing non-ferrous metals, fertilizers, seafood, clothes and shoes to Kazakhstan.
There are good prospects for cooperation in mining sector, particularly exploration and development of oil and gas fields on the basis of the memorandum of energy cooperation between Vietnam's Industry and Trade Ministry and Kazakhstan's Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry as well as cooperation agreement between PetroVietnam and KazMunaiGaz.
The government of Vietnam is ready to provide favorable conditions for Kazakh businessmen investing in Vietnam, with priority given to infrastructure development projects.
Vietnam has recently conducted elections to the National Assembly and announced new government. Can you tell in a few words about the current political and economic situation in the country?
Huge historically significant achievements of the "Doi Moi" process in the last 25 years have changed an image of our country, allowed Vietnam to overcome underdevelopment and join a group of countries with average income per capita. Today Vietnam is a peaceful nation with a stable political and social standing, dynamically developing economy, a country, which successfully maintains the high rate of economic development during many years, the GDP of Vietnam increases by 7.5 percent annually. Vietnam is also among few countries, which have the positive growth rate in the crisis period: in 2009 the GDP growth reached 5.32 percent, in 2010 - 6.7 percent, this year it is expected at the level of 6 percent. Vietnam transferred to a market economy with socialist orientation; the process of international integration is becoming wider and deeper.
Alongside with economic development Vietnam reached notable success in cultural and social sphere. Quality of life of our population, both material and spiritual, is improving. The processes of society democratization are under expansion. With a population of nearly 90 million people, the GDP per capita in 2010 made USD 1.168. Our country successfully executed most of the Millennium Goals, we implemented the goal of eliminating poverty 10 years ahead of schedule, reducing the number of poor families on international standard from 58 percent in 1993 to 9.5 percent in 2010.
Presently, Vietnam has diplomatic relations with 179 states, develops trade-economic relations with 224 countries and regions of the world. Vietnam successfully performed missions as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2008-2009, ASEAN chair in 2010. Vietnam is an active member of the most important international and regional organizations.
For transformation of Vietnam into a modern industrial country we actively implement the strategy of economic and social development for 2010-2020 focusing on three breakthrough directions: improvement of institutions of market economy, accelerated development of human resources, creation of modern and unified system of infrastructure. We are confident that Vietnam will continue develop steadily and rapidly, striving for the tasks set: prosperous population, strong state, democratic, just and civilized society.
As you have noted, Vietnam is a member of many international organizations and associations, including ASEAN. What can you say about interaction of ASEAN with SCO and CICA? How do you estimate prospects for deepening cooperation between Kazakhstan and ASEAN?
ASEAN and SCO are important regional organizations in the Asia-Pacific region. On the basis of similar approaches and proceeding from importance of maintaining peace, stability and general welfare of the whole region, ASEAN and SCO conducted many effective events on cooperation in the trade-economic sphere, tourism, environmental protection, natural resources management, social development, fight against cross-border crime as well as cooperation in energy, especially in the sphere of hydroelectric engineering and bioenergetics. I consider these events an important foundation for expansion of cooperation between ASEAN and SCO.
Being a member of the CICA Conference and ASEAN, Vietnam is ready to act as a bridge, which will promote establishment and strengthening of cooperation between ASEAN and CICA for the sake of peace, stability and development both in the Asian region and in the world. Priority spheres of cooperation between CICA and ASEAN, which should be strengthened in the nearest time, are: economic cooperation, environmental protection, countering new political and military threats, nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, struggle against terrorism and drug trafficking.
Vietnam welcomes and supports Kazakhstan in further strengthening of cooperation with ASEAN and with each country of the region. First of all, the two countries can establish cooperation relations in priority spheres for Kazakhstan - such as energy, food safety, struggle against terrorism, by ASEAN-SCO cooperation mechanism.
Nazarbayev's visit to Vietnam will take place on the threshold of 20th anniversary of Kazakhstan's independence. How would you appraise Kazakhstan's progress for the years of independence? What would you wish to the people of Kazakhstan?
Vietnam always attentively follows and rejoices great success in all areas achieved under the leadership of Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev over the past 20 years. You have achieved political and social stability. Kazakhstan's economic reforms yield positive results. GDP is maintaining high growth rates. Living standards have been improved significantly.
Conducting multivector and balanced foreign policy, Kazakhstan has strengthened bilateral relations with all countries, strengthened and enhanced its position and role in international and regional organizations, performed excellently as OSCE Chair and successfully held the OSCE Summit in Astana in 2010. Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) initiated by President Nazarbayev becomes more influential and attractive. We appreciate Kazakhstan's contribution to the maintenance of peace, stability, cooperation and development in Asia and the world at large.
In the Development Strategy for 2010-2020 and Development Strategy-2030 Nazarbayev outlined the development path of Kazakhstan: to build independent, sustainable, developed and prosperous country on the basis of national harmony.
The outcome of the previous presidential elections in Kazakhstan confirmed the confidence of the people of Kazakhstan in the course of the President, who was proclaimed "leader of the nation".
I would like to take this opportunity to convey my best wishes to President Nursultan Nazarbayev and the people of Kazakhstan through the Kazakh Information Agency "Kazinform". I wish you, dear friends, continue your path towards prosperity, wealth and happiness.
Thank you for the interview!