Reporter: Sir, would you please share how the multi-faced cooperation between Vietnam and Azerbaijan has been effectively implemented in 2019?
Mr. Anar Imanov: As it is well known, the foundation of traditional friendship between Azerbaijan and Vietnam was laid by the national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev and the President of Vietnam Ho Chi Minh. The visits of the President of Vietnam Ho Chi Minh to Azerbaijan in 1959 and the national leader of Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev to Vietnam in 1983 laid the foundation for the development of relations between the nations.
Based on this rich historical traditions friendly relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam have been developing dynamically over the recent years. It should be noted that 2019 was no exception and between the parties at both bilateral and multilateral levels multi-faceted mutually beneficial cooperation has been carried out.
It should be especially noted that the working visit of H.E.Mrs. Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Vice-President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Republic of Azerbaijan to attend the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Baku, on October 25th-26th, 2019, as well as official visit of H.E. Mr. Ramiz Hasanov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Vietnam on March 10th-13th, 2019, for conducting political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affaires of both countries, could be considered as the main events of 2019 in the relations between Azerbaijan and Vietnam.
At the same time it should be mentioned that during the visit to our country H.E.Mrs. Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh also attended the event to mark the 60th anniversary of the visit of President of Vietnam Ho Chi Minh to Azerbaijan. In her speech at the event, H.E.Mr. Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh highly appreciated the great support of the Azerbaijani people to Vietnam during and after the war, as well as the irreplaceable role of our specialists in the creation of the oil and gas industry of Vietnam.
Also I would like to underline that in 2019 100th anniversary of the diplomatic service of the Republic of Azerbaijan has been celebrated. On this remarkable occasion within the framework of the aforesaid official visit of H.E. Mr.Ramiz Hasanov to Vietnam, on March 12th, 2019, in Hanoi, a conference entitled “Azerbaijan and Vietnam Diplomacy: Parallels, Development, Role in State Building” was jointly organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.
I would also like to emphasize that as a result of fruitful cooperation between our coutries Azerbaijan has supported Vietnam's candidacy for a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021 and avail of this opportunity I wish the Government of Vietnam success in its extremely important upcoming activities.
Establishment of direct contacts between the regions of Azerbaijan and Vietnam was one of the main goals of the Embassy since beginning its operation in Vietnam in 2013. As a part of this policy, the event named “Meet Azerbaijan-2019” was organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on January 11th, 2019, in Hanoi, at the new office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Representatives from about 20 provinces and largest cities of Vietnam attended this event. During the meeting, discussions were held in various areas, and participants were given the opportunity to hold their presentations. The event was aimed at expanding cooperation in the economic, trade and humanitarian spheres between Azerbaijan and Vietnam in general, and the establishment of direct contacts in the mentioned fields between the regions of both countries in particular.
Undoubtedly, cooperation in the oil and gas sector is one of the main directions of economic and trade relations between Azerbaijan and Vietnam. Thus, on November 29th, 2019, in Hanoi, Vietnam’s state-run Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Co (BSR) has inked an agreement with the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) to buy crude oil in 2020.
As it could be seen, all the above-mentioned clearly shows that the multi-faceted relations between Azerbaijan and Vietnam have developing rapidly in 2019 as well.
Mr. Anar Imanov, Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to Vietnam. (Photo: CPV)
Reporter: What are your impressions on Vietnam’s people and development achievements in your term as Azerbaijan Ambassador to Vietnam?
Mr. Anar Imanov: I have been appointed as Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 2013 and I have definitely enjoyed communication with Vietnamese friends, both officials and ordinary people. I find Vietnamese people as kind, helpful, sincere and extremely hard-working. I do admire the courageous struggle of Vietnamese people for their freedom and independence.
Living and working in Vietnam for the past 7 years, I have witnessed amazing changes in your country. The country is developing at the highest pace, the standard of living of the population is growing, Vietnam is playing an increasingly important role in international affairs and is accepted by international partners as a trusting and reliable partner. Without a doubt, all this became possible thanks to the active and competent work of the Government of Vietnam implementing important measures to develop all sectors of the country's economy. We can say that every screw and bolt of the state machine works for the development of the country. I am convinced that in the near future Vietnam will become one of the most developed countries in the region. I sincerely wish it.
Reporter: Could you please share about what purposes and meanings of establishing the Vietnam – Azerbaijan Friendship Association and the Azerbaijani History and Culture Studies in Hanoi?
Mr. Anar Imanov: It is well known that thousands of Vietnamese graduates of Azerbaijani educational institutions in various levels and fields were actively involved in the post-war reconstruction, as well as nowadays comprehensive development of Vietnam. Thus, in order to maintain the connection of these people with Azerbaijan and facilitate people-to-people contacts between our countries on October 10th, 2015, the Azerbaijan-Vietnam Friendship Association was established in Hanoi.
In this regard I would like especially to point out that by the initiative of H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan the first Azerbaijan-Vietnam Friendship Forum was held on May 7, 2015, at ADA University in Baku. The event was attended by 40 Vietnamese graduates of Azerbaijani educational institutions.
On September 22nd, 2017, the second meeting of the Azerbaijan-Vietnam Friendship Forum was held in Vung Tau. As part of the forum, in accordance with the Order of H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mrs. Nguyen Vu Ha Le, Director General of the International Relations Office of the Presidential Administration of Vietnam and Mr. Nghiem Vu Khai, member of the Vietnam National Assembly, Chairman of the Vietnam-Azerbaijan Friendship Association, have been awarded the “Taraggi” medal for their contribution to the development of friendly and cooperation relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. At the same time, during this event, Baku State University, Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University and Higher Military School named after Heydar Aliyev were awarded the “Friendship” Order by the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Also, in my view, it was imperative to take practical steps towards the mutual propoganda of the rich culture and history of both countries in terms of further strengthening of public diplomacy between our close nations. Thus, taking into consideration this factor on September 26th, 2014, the Center for Azerbaijani Culture and History was established at the Institute of Politics, Law and Management of the Association of Science and Technology Associations of Vietnam.
It should be noted that these organizations have made a significant contribution to the rapid development of relations between our countries in recent years.
Reporter: As Ambassador, what do you wish to contribute to promoting bilateral relations between the two countries in the future?
Mr. Anar Imanov: Relations between Azerbaijan and Vietnam have been actively developing in recent years. I would especially like to note the political component of this relationship. The state visit of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev, to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on May 18th-19th, 2014 opened a new chapter in the history of relations between the countries and gave a powerful impetus to the development of relations in all areas. The official visit of President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam H.E. Mr. Truong Tan Sang to Azerbaijan on May 13th-15th, 2015 was an important event in the history of the Azerbaijan-Vietnam relations and facilitated the expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
Since 2013, the Vietnamese-Azerbaijani Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group in the National Assembly (Parliament) of Vietnam, the Azerbaijan-Vietnam Inter-Parliamentary Relations Working Group in the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Azerbaijani-Vietnamese Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technical Cooperation have been established. The Vietnamese-Azerbaijani Friendship Association and the Center for Azerbaijani Culture and History were established in the city of Hanoi during this period. These organizations make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of relations between Azerbaijan and Vietnam.
In recent years, mutually beneficial cooperation between Azerbaijan and Vietnam in all spheres, including political, economic, trade and humanitarian areas, has been steadily developing. Many mutual visits have been caried out at all levels. To my opinion in order to further develop our relations the dynamics of active political dialogue should be continued. At the same time I think that more measures should be done to develop economic and trade relations, and that more sustainable work should be made to expand cooperation in all areas.
I would like especially to emphasize that the opening by the Vietnamese side its Embassy in Azerbaijan is very important for the development of relations between our countries. I hope this issue will be resolved positively.
Reporter: Have you ever welcomed Tet (the Lunar New Year) in Vietnam? If yes, could you please share something about it?
Mr. Anar Imanov: Respecting the culture, history and traditions of the Vietnamese people, based on their deep historical past, during all my stay in Vietnam, I watched the process of welcoming Tet with the great interest. During Tet a festive atmosphere is felt everywhere, everyone celebrates this holiday and visits family members. This is a clear indication of the importance that the Vietnamese attach to family values.
Along with this, I would like to note that Tet is very similar to the Novruz holiday in Azerbaijan. Novruz holiday is one of the most important and favorite holidays of the Azerbaijani people. It marks the arrival of spring, renewal of nature, and is celebrated on the vernal equinox, March 20-21–the beginning of the astronomical New Year. The origin of Novruz dates back to ancient customs, cult of nature and fertility, as well as beliefs in nature’s decline and rise.
From my point of view celebration of these holidays is another manifestation that the culture and traditions of Azerbaijani and Vietnamese peoples are very similar.
In the end I would like to wish all readers happiness, strong health and welfare, as well as success in all their endeavors.
Reporter: Thank you very much!