Vietnam, Armenia foster traditional ties in Yerevan talks

As an active member of ASEAN and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), Vietnam stands ready to act as a bridge to help Armenia expand ties with ASEAN, AIPA, and other member parliaments.

z6469764441759-27b51454ca084bbc09c7cf48d9a7ece4.jpg
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man (L) and President of Armenian NA Alen Simonyan (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam always values its long-standing traditional friendship with Armenia over the past decades, visiting National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man told President of the National Assembly of Armenia Alen Simonyan during their talks held right after a welcome ceremony in Yerevan capital city on April 3 (local time).

Recalling the significance of President Ho Chi Minh’s visit to Armenia in July 1959, Man noted that his visit, combined with the Armenian NA President’s trip to Vietnam in November 2024, would serve as a driving force to further tighten friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

z6469747380348-eeb1f3a38e595dc16232b6d4adb17ad5.jpg
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man (L) and President of Armenian NA Alen Simonyan hold talks (Photo: VNA)

Highlighting Armenia’s growing role on the global stage, Man shared Vietnam’s key socio-economic achievements in 2024 and outlined major priorities for 2025. He expressed a strong desire to deepen collaboration across all sectors and channels, including Party, State, Government, National Assembly, and people-to-people exchange.

Man announced with satisfaction the establishment of the Vietnam-Armenia Friendship Parliamentary Group under the Vietnamese NA. He expressed confidence that the activities of this group, alongside its Armenia-Vietnam counterpart, would enhance exchanges and cooperation, serving as a vital bridge to boost ties between the two nations and their legislative bodies.

z6469795333261-4fd90065cbe8b9fe9150530ae39986e7.jpg
An overview of the talks (Photo: VNA)

In response, Simonyan underscored Armenia’s high regard for Vietnam, not only as a friend but also as a key economic and trade partner in the region. With Armenia set to host the UN Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) in 2026, he expressed his hope that Vietnam would send a high-ranking delegation to the event.

Both leaders hailed the signing of a cooperation agreement between their legislatures during the visit, which provides a legal framework to bolster bilateral ties in the years ahead. They agreed to increase high-level parliamentary delegation exchanges and promote collaboration between parliamentary agencies, friendship parliamentary groups, young and female parliamentarians, and lawmakers.

z6470177976036-8b929449dce63fa74a3e8e931190b62b.jpg
Top Vietnamese and Armenian legislators sign a cooperation agreement between the two legislatures (Photo: VNA)

Specifically, they will increase the sharing of information and experience between specialised committees and lawmakers, especially in legislation and supervision. They will also enhance monitoring to ensure the effective implementation of bilateral and multilateral cooperation agreements signed or joined by their Governments, especially those fostering economic and trade ties.

The legislative leaders acknowledged the growth in bilateral economic and trade relations in recent years, particularly since the Vietnam-Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) took effect in 2016. In 2024, two-way trade approached 500 million USD.

z6470178008341-7b860f6b725532d2462b89da228ff8f5.jpg
Top Vietnamese and Armenian legislators sign a cooperation agreement between the two legislatures (Photo: VNA)

Man urged Armenia to facilitate Vietnamese businesses’ access to Armenian and EAEU markets, leveraging the Vietnam-EAEU FTA, of which Armenia is a member. He stressed the importance of updating policy and market information, simplifying enterprise involvement in trade and investment promotion activities, thematic fairs, and international exhibitions in both countries. He also proposed addressing challenges faced by businesses investing in each other’s markets by exchanging lists of goods in demand early, aiming to diversify bilateral trade.

Recognising the vast cooperation potential across culture, tourism, education-training, transportation, locality-to-locality and people-to-people exchanges, they vowed to harness localities' strengths to enhance overall bilateral coordination.

On the occasion, the Vietnamese leader urged Armenia to facilitate cultural exchange and promotion activities that showcase the cultural and historical values of both nations, contributing to raising mutual understanding among younger generations and strengthening the friendship between their people. He also proposed that Armenia consider establishing an Armenia-Vietnam Friendship Association.

Regarding international and regional cooperation, the two leaders pledged to maintain regular exchanges, consultations, and mutual support at multilateral parliamentary forums and on global and regional issues of common interest. They reaffirmed their commitment to making proactive and responsible contributions to peace and stability in the region and the world.

As an active member of ASEAN and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), Vietnam stands ready to act as a bridge to help Armenia expand ties with ASEAN, AIPA, and other member parliaments, Man noted. He suggested effective collaboration at regional forums, support for ASEAN's and Vietnam’s stance on the East Sea issue, and the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, the UN Charter, and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Following the talks, Man and Simonyan signed a cooperation agreement between the two legislatures./.

Politics-Diplomacy

Party chief pays final respects to former Lao leader
Politics-Diplomacy

Party chief pays final respects to former Lao leader

Party General Secretary To Lam on April 3 led a high-ranking Vietnamese Party and State delegation to pay their final respects to Gen. Khamtay Siphandone, former Chairman of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), former President and former Prime Minister of Laos, who passed away a day earlier.

Prime Minister expects US to adopt tariff policy conformable to bilateral good relations
Politics-Diplomacy

Prime Minister expects US to adopt tariff policy conformable to bilateral good relations

Vietnam hopes that the US will adopt a tariff policy that is conformable to the good relationship between the two countries, meeting the desires of their people, and the efforts that Vietnam has made in recent years, PM Chinh said, stressing that this policy should take into account the conditions and circumstances of Vietnam as a developing country still recovering from the heavy and prolonged consequences of the wars.

Party chief to pay tribute to former Lao top leader in Vientiane
Politics-Diplomacy

Party chief to pay tribute to former Lao top leader in Vientiane

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam will lead a high-ranking delegation of the Party and State of Vietnam to Vientiane on April 3 to pay respects to former President of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and former President of Laos Khamtay Siphandone, who passed away on April 2.

Vietnam extends condolences to Laos over former President Khamtay Siphanone's passing
Politics-Diplomacy

Vietnam extends condolences to Laos over former President Khamtay Siphanone's passing

The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, the President, the Government, the National Assembly, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee on April 2 sent a message of condolences to their Lao counterparts over the passing of General Khamtay Siphandone, former President of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee, and former President of Laos.

PM urges finalising private economic sector development project
Politics-Diplomacy

PM urges finalising private economic sector development project

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged promoting breakthroughs in scientific and technological development, innovation, and digital transformation for rapid and sustainable growth, noting that attention should be placed on green economy, digital economy, knowledge-based economy, circular economy, and sharing economy, particularly in emerging sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things.

State leader, spouse host grand banquet for Belgian King, Queen
Politics-Diplomacy

State leader, spouse host grand banquet for Belgian King, Queen

In the past over five decades, Vietnam and Belgium have emerged as key partners across multiple fields, including politics, diplomacy, trade, investment, education, health care, environmental protection, and sustainable development. Both nations have also worked closely together at multilateral forums, particularly as members of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 tenure.

Belgian King's visit to create new momentum for deepening ties: Party leader
Politics-Diplomacy

Belgian King's visit to create new momentum for deepening ties: Party leader

Belgian King Philippe's visit, accompanied by senior officials, business leaders, representatives of universities and research institutes, would create new momentum to deepen and enhance the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Belgium in a practical and effective way, meeting the benefits of their people and contributing responsibly to peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region and the world.

NA leader hosts Belgian King in Hanoi
Politics-Diplomacy

NA leader hosts Belgian King in Hanoi

To further strengthen Vietnam-Belgium relations, especially parliamentary cooperation, both sides agreed to enhance delegation exchanges at all levels, particularly between parliamentary committees and friendship groups. They also pledged to share legislative and supervisory experience, coordinate positions in international organisations, support each other’s candidacies for UN bodies, and effectively implement the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).