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| Azerbaijani Ambassador to Vietnam Shovgi Kamal Oglu Mehdizade (Photo: baophapluat.vn) |
Reporter: The year of 2023 was a very important year in the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Azerbaijan, when the two countries celebrated the 100th birthday of the late Azerbaijani leader Heydar Aliyev - a great friend of Vietnam, as well as the 40th anniversary of his visit to Vietnam in 1983. Over the past year, how has the Vietnam - Azerbaijan relationship been practically and effectively implemented?
In 2024, Azerbaijan will solemnly celebrate the 65th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's historic visit to Baku - the visit that Azerbaijan considers a milestone marking the start of relations between the two countries and two peoples. In your opinion, how important is this milestone in strengthening the traditional friendly relationship between Vietnam and Azerbaijan?
Azerbaijani Ambassador Shovgi Kamal Oglu Mehdizade: Let me take liberty to unite the two above-mentioned questions, as they are very correlated to each other from the historic point of view and definitely should be considered together.
The role of our national leaders in the establishment of historic friendship between our nations is essential. Along with the general line of strategic cooperation between the two countries, Viet Nam and USSR (Azerbaijan was part of USSR), our national leaders had a personal dedication to establishment of friendship.
During the very hard time of war and the striving of Vietnamese people to reunite the country and establish a strong sovereign state, President Ho Chi Minh visited a number of Soviet Republics. The visit to Baku has outstanding importance. Immediately after this visit, young Vietnamese started to study in Baku, especially in the field of oil and gas. The Great Son of Vietnam was confident that immediately after the victory and full liberation of the country, this sphere will be the driving force of the whole economy. During the entire period of the establishment of our friendship, up to 5,000 Vietnamese students lived and studied in Baku.
We, also all the time, with special gratitude, commemorate Heydar Aliyev, a big friend of Vietnam, one of a few leaders of the Soviet Union, who had personal dedication to the friendship with Vietnam. Both during his tenure as leader of Azerbaijan and then the member of the politburo of USSR, first deputy prime-minister of USSR and head of commission for Vietnam, he always paid utmost importance to relations with your beautiful country. The only official visit in October-November, 1983 of a Soviet government delegation headed by Heydar Aliyev didn’t last for two or three days as planned initially, but for more than a week after his personal corrections and intervention to the schedule. He wanted to personally visit and see the regions, especially where the infrastructure and construction projects had been implemented. He wanted to see Soviet specialists on the site, to talk with them, to learn about any difficulties and shortcoming in order to facilitate the process, especially to request them to accomplish the projects as soon as possible. One of such memorable meetings had taken place in Vung Tau, where he visited to check the works over construction of oil and gas industry of Vietnam and where majority of Soviet specialists were Azerbaijanis with then first head of VietSovPetro Jalal Mamedov. Heydar Aliyev, in Azerbaijani language, requested all of them to work for their own Motherland.
By the initiative of our Embassy last year, we started to research the archive materials regarding the visits of our national leaders and other aspects of their activities aimed at establishing and strengthening our friendship.
Our leaders played a historic role in establishing and strengthening our friendship. Documents say, that during the meeting with Soviet oil specialists and engineers - when Heydar Aliyev learned from them that first oil from offshore fields is planned to operate at beginning of 90s, after talking with Baku specialists and Azerbaijan oil company and then bringing more oil engineers from Baku and offshore drilling equipment, first oil from White Tiger oilfield was received nearly after one year.
Also, based on archive documents, during the visit to Baku, President Ho Chi Minh expressed the word “Brotherhood” while touching our relations.
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The Azerbaijani Embassy in Vietnam and the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam organized the conference 'Heydar Aliyev: Historic mission to build Azerbaijan – Vietnam friendship'
(Photo: baophapluat.vn)
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Reporter: In recent times, the trade, economic and investment cooperation between Vietnam and Azerbaijan has developed dynamically but is still not commensurate with the potential of the two countries. In the coming time, what do we need to do to continue to promote this potential?
Azerbaijani Ambassador Shovgi Kamal Oglu Mehdizade: As it was correctly noted, while trade turnover between our countries shows positive dynamics, potential for mutually beneficial economic cooperation is much higher. Both countries' economies have shown significant achievements, Vietnam is one of the rapidly developing countries in the South-East Asia region, Azerbaijan is a leading country in socio-economic development in the South Caucasus region, being initiator and active participant of many important international projects. Our oil companies continue a glorious and historic tradition of friendship in this field nowadays. It's noteworthy to say that in 2023, we inaugurated the first branch of Vietnam-Azerbaijan Friendship Association in “Vietsovpetro” company, Vung Tau.
In addition, there are ample opportunities in investment agriculture and tourism, green economy and e-commerce could be promising too. Azerbaijan's location on the historical Silk Road speaks of the country's long traditions in the field of logistics. Here Azerbaijan acts not only as a transit country, but also as an initiator and participant of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway and the North-South international transport corridor. The current geopolitical situation in the region has significantly increased the importance of the Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian International Transport Route). The construction of the new Baku International Sea Trade Port, the funds allocated for the diversification of the railway infrastructure and the construction and reconstruction of international highways show that Azerbaijan is taking consistent steps towards becoming a transport hub. Azerbaijan has one of the largest civil air cargo fleets in the region. To establish cargo flights between Azerbaijan and Vietnam will give significant impetus to developing trade relations between two countries. From above-mentioned we can conclude that logistic and international transportation could be areas of mutual benefit, the route via Azerbaijan will be the shortest way for Vietnam’s products to Europe, Vietnam could help Azerbaijan to enter the markets of Southeast Asia.
However, at the current stage, it is necessary to revive all existing mechanisms, such as the Azerbaijan-Vietnam Intergovernmental Commission on economic, trade, scientific and technical cooperation, as well as the Business Forum, which was last held in 2018 in Baku. The next meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission will identify areas of mutual interest, develop concrete steps and an action plan. At the same time, we need to look for new platforms. For example, in May last year, on the initiative of the Embassy and at the organization of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the first business forum was held between women entrepreneurs of two countries. I tried to be short, as much as possible, since there are many promising industries for cooperation.
All these measures will help to tackle untapped potential of our bilateral relations.
Reporter: As a diplomatic "bridge" in Vietnam - Azerbaijan relations, in 2024, what contributions and recommendations will you continue to make to further promote relations between the two countries?
Azerbaijani Ambassador Shovgi Kamal Oglu Mehdizade: 2024 marks the 65th anniversary of our friendship, and all our endeavors will be tied to commemoration of the historic visit of President Ho Chi Minh to Azerbaijan. We have to raise the awareness of our young generations of what had been done for us by our national leaders. Number of events will be held in Azerbaijan and Viet Nam.
The year started with Tet holiday celebrations with children of Ha Giang, in Phieng Sui primary school, constructed several years ago with support of Heydar Aliyev Foundation. We meet with children of school periodically for spending together our holiday times. Then we will continue with a demonstration in Baku of the popular Vietnamese movie film “Legend makers” dedicated to the heroism of the Vietnamese army during the liberation of the country from the enemy.
Another important project is related to commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the activity of prominent and famous Azerbaijani and Soviet filmmaker, People’s artist of USSR Ajdar Ibrahimov in Vietnam. He moved to Vietnam in 1959 by the invitation of President Ho Chi Minh and mainly contributed to the establishment of the cinema school in Vietnam, made 3 movies and wrote 3 books dedicated to Vietnam. After 3 years of his dedication to Vietnam, he was titled by the President very high government awards.
Thus, spheres of culture and tourism have utmost importance for us. Last December, “Vietnamese Suite”, created by the famous Azerbaijani composer Gara Garaev in 1955 for the first Soviet documentary film “Viet Nam”, premiered at the Vietnam National Academy of Music. It was a really historic and heart touching event, impossible to listen and watch without tears in eyes. This year we are going to organize the premiere of this magnificent work in Baku.
Work is underway on cooperation in the field of music, cinematography and literature.
Cooperation in the field of tourism and gastronomy can be another interesting and successful one. It is natural that our capitals have taken a prestigious place in the ranking “Best Food Destinations in the World 2024”, of which Hanoi deserved the top place amongst 30 world cities.
As long as we do not have the Embassy of Vietnam in Baku, periodically holding events in Baku as well. We promote the culinary culture of Azerbaijan and Vietnam in both countries, our Embassy, together with Vietnamese partners, held barbecue competitions among students, actively participated in fairs and festivals, and even organized a “Day of Vietnam” in Baku in July, 2023. People in both countries have shown great interest in each other's culture and national cuisine. Therefore, the Embassy is doing its best to be a diplomatic "bridge" in Vietnam - Azerbaijan relations in all spheres.
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Azerbaijani Ambassador Shovgi Mehdizade (second from left) at the festival "Vietnam Day - history of friendship". (Photo: Embassy of Azerbaijan in Hanoi)
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Reporter: How do you evaluate the importance of strengthening communications on the traditional friendly relationship between the two countries, especially the young generation?
Azerbaijani Ambassador Shovgi Kamal Oglu Mehdizade: One of the priorities of our diplomatic mission is to transfer the spirit of friendship between our peoples to the younger generation. This process is being headed by our political parties, strong cooperation between them created strong fundamentals for all our successful efforts. Last November, an official visit of an important Azerbaijani delegation to Vietnam took place under the leadership of the Deputy Chairman of the New Party of Azerbaijan. And it is no coincidence that the chairman of the youth wing of the Party was in the delegation.
The future development of relations between our countries depends on the younger generation, our task is to convey to them the friendly relations established by our leaders, then strengthened by the mutual visits of our presidents in 2014 and 2015. That is why, at all meetings with the Vietnam-Azerbaijan Friendship Association, the prospects of creating a youth wing of this structure in other cities and regions and attracting young people to its ranks are discussed. We are also discussing the exchange of delegations between young scientists, businessmen and parliamentarians. Last year, our embassy organized a chess tournament between the chess federations of the two countries, and this tradition will continue. Among all these activities, for our opinion, utmost importance should be given to the sphere of education via revitalization of long-run educational projects.
This is only a small part of our plans. All of the above shows how much importance we attach to the establishment of friendly relations in all spheres, especially among young people.
Reporter: After more than one year serving as Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Vietnam, what are your impressions of the development of the country and people of Vietnam? On the occasion of the Lunar New Year of the Dragon, what message do you want to send to readers of the Communist Party of Vietnam Online Newspaper?
Azerbaijani Ambassador Shovgi Kamal Oglu Mehdizade: First of all, let me express my sincere wishes of Happy New Year to Vietnamese people! We wish this year would be most successful and full of new important achievements. I am confident among those important achievements we will have many related to our bilateral relations, strengthening our historic friendship.
When we started our friendship, Vietnam had been struggling for liberation of the country and the Vietnamese nation was faced with one of the most important challenges in its history. Today Vietnam is one of the strongest and most dynamically developing countries in the world and has good relations with all countries. We are very proud of our friends, we are also very proud that our nation also somehow contributed to this process. We are also proud of the fact that our National Leaders played a historical role in this process, they founded our friendship and blessed it by their important mission.
Azerbaijan highly values and attaches priority importance to its relations with Vietnam, considering Vietnam to be one of the most important partners in the Asia-Pacific region. Vietnam is said to be a global success story, and economic growth over the past decade has been one of the highest in the world.
Having been in the country for more than a year, it is obvious to me that these successes are the result of the tireless efforts of the Party, government and state, as well as the entire Vietnamese people.
Apart from its economic achievements, Vietnam has also achieved commendable results in socio-cultural development, and living standards are improving year by year.
From the very beginning of my arrival, I was surrounded by the attention and support of the Association's members, graduates of Azerbaijani universities. Their warm memories of student years, feedback about my country and people, as well as the sincere friendship carried through the years, deeply touched me. I am grateful for my all Vietnamese friends for keeping in heart such warmness towards my country.
It is a great honor and pleasure for me once again to congratulate all readers and employees of the Communist Party of Vietnam Online Newspaper on the upcoming Lunar New Year. Despite the fact that I only spent Lunar New Year in Hanoi once, this holiday has already become my own. It reminds me of our favorite traditional and ancient holiday. In Azerbaijan, in addition to the official calendar year, on March 20-21, the day of the vernal equinox, the traditional New Year holiday is “Novruz”. Both of these holidays are united by universal values, such as family values, respect for elders, and custody of the younger, hospitality, national cuisine, charity and many other good and bright traditions.
Starting this Year of the Dragon, which symbolizes power, growth and abundance, I wish Vietnam further success and achievements in all areas, as well as good health and happiness to its people.
Reporter: Thank you very much!