Vietnam and Azerbaijan are working to bolster their strategic partnership through increased cooperation in trade and travel. During a visit to Baku on October 14, Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan engaged in talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva. The meetings occurred as Xuan attended the seventh Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), underscoring the importance both nations place on enhancing their bilateral relations.
The discussions centered on expanding economic, trade, and investment cooperation, with a particular focus on key sectors such as oil and gas, energy, transport, agriculture, tourism, education, science, and technology. Both countries expressed a shared commitment to advancing the Vietnam-Azerbaijan Strategic Partnership, a relationship that was formally established following a visit by Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam to Azerbaijan in 2025.
Key agreements include initiatives to strengthen high-level exchanges and improve coordination between government agencies to more effectively implement existing bilateral agreements. The leaders also deliberated on potential visa exemptions for ordinary passport holders and the establishment of direct air routes to enhance travel, tourism, and business exchanges between the two nations.
Efforts to deepen cooperation extend beyond economic interests, as Vietnam and Azerbaijan also pledged to collaborate in culture, education, mining, and aluminum production. The discussions emphasized the importance of fostering stronger people-to-people ties to complement formal agreements and initiatives.
Beyond bilateral interests, both nations agreed to enhance their coordination at regional and international forums, supporting multilateralism and upholding the United Nations Charter and international law. This cooperation reflects a mutual desire to contribute to global stability and development through strategic partnerships.