Vietnam and Azerbaijan have signed a protocol on cooperation between their Ministries of Foreign Affairs and an agreement on visa exemptions for ordinary . . .

Vietnam and Azerbaijan have signed a protocol on cooperation between their Ministries of Foreign Affairs and an agreement on visa exemptions for ordinary and official passport holders.

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The signing took place after talks in Baku on April 9 between Prime Minister Artur Rasizade and Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai.

PM Rasizade hailed the results of Mr Hai’s visit to Azerbaijan, during which both sides signed a number of cooperation agreements, including a strategic deal between the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PVN) and the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR).

These agreements will create the prerequisite for boosting all-round cooperation between the two countries, he said.

He briefed Mr Hai on socio-economic development in Azerbaijan and Central Asia, and proposed both countries formulate legal frameworks for strengthening bilateral relations.

Mr Hai said he was impressed by Azerbaijan’s robust economic growth of 9.3 percent despite the global economic and financial woes. He thanked the former Soviet Union including Azerbaijan for providing valuable assistance to Vietnam during its national construction and defence, especially in training thousands of Vietnamese specialists, including those working in the oil and gas sector.

The Deputy PM expressed his belief that Mr Rasizade will support bilateral cooperation agreements and confirmed that Vietnam welcomes Azerbaijan investors to the country. He proposed that Azerbaijan create favourable conditions for Vietnamese nationals to live and work in the country.

He conveyed PM Nguyen Tien Dung’s invitation to visit Vietnam to PM Rasizade.

The same day, Mr Hai visited and delivered a speech at a meeting with lecturers and students of the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy (ASOA). He witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement on scientific research and training between PVN and ASOA. He also presented Vietnam’s Labour and Friendship Orders to Azerbaijan nationals who have made a significant contribution to Vietnam’s oil and gas industry.

On April 10, Mr Hai left Baku for Hanoi, concluding his official visit to the Central Asian nation.

VietNamNet/VOV