Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Uong Chu Luu affirmed Vietnam’s commitment to expanding partnership with Azerbaijan in many areas while addressing a ceremony marking the 100^th anniversary of the first legislative body of Azerbaijan on September 21.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Uong Chu Luu addresses a ceremony marking the 100^th anniversary of the first legislative body of Azerbaijan on September 21. (Photo: VNA)

Luu said that the State and people of Vietnam have always followed closely and is pleased at the strong growth of Azerbaijan.

He highlighted that Vietnamese people always remember the great support that Azerbaijani people have given Vietnam in the past struggle for independence as well as today’s national constriction.

He also hailed the role of Azerbaijan’s parliament in the country’s political system and in fostering friendship with other countries in the world, including Vietnam.

Earlier, NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu had a meeting with First Deputy Speaker of the Azerbaijan Parliament Ziyafet Askerov to discuss a range of cooperation issues, including increasing delegation exchange at all levels and channels.

Luu suggested that the two sides continue optimise the consultation mechanism and coordinate with each other at multilateral forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

The two sides agreed that economic and trade relations between the two countries have recovered but have yet to meet their potential.

Two-way trade in 2017 reached USD 252 million, 2.5 times higher than that of 2016, but was still much lower than USD 422 million in 2014, they noted, adding that the two sides are all strong in oil and gas exploitation which is an advantageous conditions for Azerbaijani firms to engage in oil and gas as well as power infrastructure projects in Vietnam.

Luu expressed hope that the parliament of Azerbaijan supports the stance of Vietnam and ASEAN countries on the settlement of East Sea disputes through peaceful measures without using or threatening to use force, on the basis of international law, including the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, thus contributing to maintaining peace, stability and development in the region.

For his part, Ziyafet Askerov agreed with proposals of Vietnam, pledging to continue promoting bilateral relations. He revealed that the Chairman of the Azerbaijan Parliament will visit Vietnam soon.

Vietnam and Azerbaijan set up their diplomatic relations in 1992. The two sides have established cooperation in various fields from politics, economy, trade, energy to education and science-technology. The ties were strengthened through the 2014 visit to Vietnam by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev and Azerbaijan visit by President Truong Tan Sang in 2015.

During his stay, NA Vice Chairman Luu also visited the Baku State University where he is an alumnus. The university plans to launch a Vietnamese language faculty soon./.

VNF/VNA