Vietnam - Azerbaijan: Cherished Memories Should Be Carried Forward with New Achievements

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As a person who studied and spent many years in Azerbaijan, could you share your most profound memories of the country and its people?

I went to Azerbaijan in 1970 to study Petroleum Geology at the Azerbaijan National University, now known as Baku State University. During our six years of study there, we felt the deep and sincere affection the Azerbaijani people held for Vietnam.

In times of hardship, Vietnamese students were never left alone. Our Azerbaijani teachers and friends treated us like family. They expressed love, encouragement, and respect through every word and gesture. They understood that we came from a country engaged in a struggle, making great sacrifices for the common ideal of socialism. Wherever I went, I would hear messages of support such as: “Vietnam is heroic,” “Vietnam will surely win,” and “The Vietnamese people are brave and exceptional.”

Dr Nghiem Vu Khai (second from left) with teachers and friends during his studies in Baku. (Photo courtesy of Dr Khai)

One of the most unforgettable moments was receiving the news of Vietnam’s victory on April 30, 1975. At that time, I was a fourth-year student and served as Unit Leader, acting as a liaison between Vietnamese students and both the university and the embassy. When the victory was announced, around 700 Vietnamese students and researchers studying in Baku gathered to celebrate. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and festivity. We rejoiced, and our Azerbaijani friends celebrated with us.

That day, our Azerbaijani professors came to offer congratulations and celebrated the victory as if it were their own. Azerbaijani radio aired a special program titled “Season of Victory”, recounting Vietnam’s arduous resistance against the United States and the moment of complete liberation of the South. My friends and I sang songs such as: Ta thay gi dem nay (What do we see tonight), Noi vong tay lon (Joining hands in unity). These melodies connected us to our homeland and resonated deeply with the hearts of our international friends.

How would you assess the current state of friendship and cooperation between the peoples of the two countries?

In the past, Azerbaijan extended invaluable support to Vietnam. They trained thousands of Vietnamese officials, engineers, graduates, and PhDs in diverse fields such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, law, biology, particularly in oil and gas, and the navy. Many of those who studied in Baku went on to assume key roles in Vietnam’s government and its scientific and technical sectors. This has created a profound and enduring foundation for the friendship between our two peoples.

However, at present, I believe that people-to-people exchanges between our two countries remain largely driven by nostalgia. For the relationship to develop in a more sustainable and substantive manner, we must adopt a renewed approach, especially by promoting the active participation of younger generations.

Currently, the Azerbaijani side has expressed strong interest in enhancing youth-to-youth exchanges. They aspire to send students to Vietnam, particularly to study culture, to gain a deeper understanding of our country and people. At the same time, Azerbaijan hopes Vietnam can serve as a gateway to the Southeast Asian market. Conversely, we can consider Azerbaijan as a strategic connecting point for Vietnam in West Asia and Europe.

I believe that the valuable traditional relationship between our two nations must be further strengthened through new, dynamic, and creative forms of cooperation. From science and technology, innovation, and culture, to economics and trade, all areas should be grounded in mutual development and shared benefits. Among these, youth exchange should not merely be a part of cooperation, but rather a key driver for sustaining and advancing people-to-people diplomacy between Vietnam and Azerbaijan in the years ahead.

I also hope that this high-level visit by General Secretary To Lam will help usher in a new phase in Vietnam-Azerbaijan people-to-people relations, one that is more substantive, effective, and mutually beneficial.

Dr. Nghiem Vu Khai (front row, fourth from the right) participated in a meeting with Tahir Budagov, Vice Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party, during his working session with the Vietnam-Azerbaijan Friendship Association on November 22, 2023, in Hanoi. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

What proposals would you recommend to further advance the bilateral relations between Vietnam and Azerbaijan in the time ahead?

Firstly, I believe that the establishment of direct air routes such as Baku–Hanoi, Baku–Ho Chi Minh City, and Baku–Da Nang is entirely feasible and should be actively promoted without delay. Azerbaijan and the Caucasus region experience severe winters, whereas Vietnam serves as an ideal destination for tourists seeking seaside vacations and leisure. A significant number of Russian tourists, who are familiar with cold climates, now choose Vietnam as a summer retreat, and it is evident that many Azerbaijani citizens share similar preferences.

Conversely, Vietnamese citizens would also benefit from the opportunity to explore Azerbaijan’s distinctive and long-standing cultural heritage. The country is renowned for its millennia-old architectural and cultural relics, rich literary traditions, intricately handcrafted carpets, wines, grapes, and lamb dishes... I am confident that these cultural assets will appeal to Vietnamese visitors and foster deeper bonds between the peoples of the two countries. Tourism may serve as a key catalyst for enhancing mutual understanding and laying the groundwork for multifaceted cooperation.

Secondly, I recommend that Vietnam consider the prompt establishment of a resident Embassy in Baku. At present, the Vietnamese Ambassador to the Russian Federation concurrently covers Azerbaijan. However, as Azerbaijan increasingly affirms its strategic role as a central nation within the Caucasus and a pivotal connector between Asia and Europe, it has emerged as a vital partner for Vietnam. The Azerbaijani side has repeatedly conveyed its wish for Vietnam to establish a formal diplomatic mission in its capital.

Given Vietnam’s current capabilities and international standing, I believe that opening a resident Embassy in Azerbaijan would not only represent a reciprocal gesture in diplomacy but also constitute a strategic step forward, paving the way for broader cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, education, tourism, and culture.

I sincerely hope that a Vietnamese Embassy in Azerbaijan will be established in the near future, thereby laying a solid foundation for the further deepening of bilateral cooperation.

Thank you very much!

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