Vietnam and Azerbaijan are taking significant steps to strengthen their strategic partnership, focusing on expanding trade and travel links. This development follows high-level discussions between Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva in Baku on October 14. The talks occurred during Xuan’s visit to the seventh Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA).
Both nations are committed to enhancing their bilateral relations, a partnership that was solidified after Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam’s visit to Azerbaijan in 2025. The discussions highlighted several sectors for potential cooperation, including oil and gas, energy, transport, agriculture, tourism, education, science, and technology. There is also a mutual interest in pursuing joint energy projects and encouraging business investments from both countries.
In a bid to facilitate greater collaboration, Vietnam and Azerbaijan are considering visa exemptions for ordinary passport holders and the establishment of direct air routes. Such measures aim to bolster travel, tourism, and business exchanges between the two countries. Furthermore, both governments have agreed to intensify high-level exchanges and improve coordination between their agencies to implement bilateral agreements more effectively.
Additionally, the discussions covered cooperation in culture, education, mining, and aluminium production, with an emphasis on building stronger people-to-people ties. The leaders also expressed their commitment to deepen coordination at regional and international forums, supporting multilateralism and upholding the United Nations Charter and international law.