Vietnam’s Party chief to visit Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Russia, Belarus

The visits come at the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus.

This will be Party chief To Lam’s first overseas trip since assuming the role in August 2024.

During the Russia leg of the tour, Lam will attend a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, which commemorates the Soviet victory over Fascism in the Great Patriotic War.

Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Gennady Bezdetko described the visit as “a key event in this year’s high-level bilateral engagements,” and said it holds special significance as both countries mark several anniversaries, including 75 years of diplomatic ties and 50 years since Vietnam’s April 30 reunification.

Bezdetko said discussions during the visit are expected to cover cooperation in trade, investment, energy, defense, education, science and culture.

Vietnam also sent 68 cadets from the Army Officer Training School No.1 to participate in the Victory Day military parade on Red Square in Moscow, marking the first time the Vietnamese military has joined the event.

Bezdetko said the gesture reflected the close military ties between the two countries.

In Kazakhstan, the visit coincides with the 66th anniversary of Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh’s 1959 visit and the 33rd anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Kazakh Ambassador to Vietnam Kanat Tumysh said the visit could mark a new phase in bilateral ties, with trade volumes reaching nearly US$1 billion annually in recent years and growing interest in connectivity and infrastructure projects.

Vietnam and Kazakhstan launched direct flights in late 2022, with plans to increase the number of weekly services to four by June.

Kazakhstan has also expressed interest in Vietnam’s proposed Hanoi–Hai Phong–Lao Cai railway project, which could help link Vietnamese exports with Central Asian and European markets.

Vietnam and Azerbaijan, which established diplomatic ties in 1992, are also seeking to deepen cooperation in areas such as energy, mining and agriculture.

During a recent meeting in April, Azerbaijan’s foreign minister Jeyhun Bayramov praised Vietnam’s regional role and said the country was ready to advance bilateral ties.

Vietnam and Belarus, also diplomatic partners since 1992, maintain strong political relations.

A bilateral visa waiver agreement took effect on January 30, allowing ordinary passport holders to stay up to 30 days per entry in each country, with a maximum of 90 days per year—aimed at boosting tourism and economic exchange.