General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam and his spouse, along with a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, landed at Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport on May 5 afternoon (local time), starting a three-day state visit to Kazakhstan at the invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

President Tokayev was present at the airport to welcome the Vietnamese leader and delegation. Accompanying the President were Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu, Deputy Prime Minister Yermek Kosherbayev, and a number senior officials of Kazakhstan.

Kazakh boys and girls in traditional attire presented flowers to the Vietnamese leader and his spouse. President Tokayev then invited his guests to walk on the red carpet flanked by two lines of honour guards standing at attention.

This marks the first state visit by a key Vietnamese leader to Kazakhstan in 13 years and the first ever by a CPV General Secretary.

The visit demonstrates Vietnam’s consistent policy and strong commitment to enhancing friendship and comprehensive cooperation with traditional partners in Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Eastern Europe, including Kazakhstan.

Vietnam and Kazakhstan established diplomatic ties on June 29, 1992. Since then, their traditional friendship has steadily strengthened. Bilateral trade has been growing though the volume remains modest. In 2024, two-way trade reached 800 million USD, up 99% from 2023. In the first quarter of 2025, the figure hit 146.3 million USD, an increase of 18.4% year on year.

Party chief meets with Vietnamese community in Kazakhstan

Party General Secretary To Lam, accompanied by his spouse and a high-level delegation, met with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Kazakhstan on the evening of May 5 as part of his ongoing state visit to the Central Asian country.

Ambassador Pham Thai Nhu Mai briefed the Party chief on the embassy’s operations, the Vietnam – Kazakhstan relations, and activities involving the Vietnamese community there.

Community representatives expressed their pride in Vietnam’s development and gratitude for the Party and State’s continued support for overseas Vietnamese.

They proposed strengthening the Vietnam – Kazakhstan cooperation in science, technology, and education, and voiced their belief that Vietnam’s growing stature in the world will inspire their deeper connections with the homeland.

General Secretary Lam expressed his pleasure at visiting Kazakhstan for the first time in his current role, calling it a significant milestone in the two countries’ traditional friendship.

The countries are considering the elevation of their ties to a strategic partnership, he noted, pointing out the growing cooperation in trade, tourism, education, along with cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Updating participants on Vietnam’s progress, he highlighted major achievements after nearly four decades of Doi Moi (Renewal), with strengthened political, economic, diplomatic, and defence – security capabilities.

He praised the Vietnamese community in Kazakhstan for their integration into the local society, as well as their solidarity and efforts to preserve the national identity. He recognised the contributions by the Vietnamese People's Association and Young Vietnamese Intellectuals' Association in Kazakhstan, calling on them to keep promoting their role as important bridges connecting the community with the homeland.

Commending the embassy’s diplomatic, citizen protection, and community development efforts, he urged its staff to remain professional, responsible, and dedicated to serving both national interests and the Vietnamese community abroad.

He took the occasion to extend his regards and wishes for good health, happiness, and success to all embassy personnel and Vietnamese nationals living in Kazakhstan./.VNA