|  | | PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and Kazakh PM Karim Masimov, Astana, September 15, 2009 – Photo: VGP | | On Tuesday morning, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng entered a high-ranking talk with his Kazakh counterpart, Mr. Karim Massimov. The two leaders informed each other socio-economic situations in their respective countries as well as shared experience of transforming their national economies into market ones, striving for sustainable development, and coping with negative impacts of the global economic crisis. |  | | The high-ranking talk between leaders of Việt Nam and Kazakhstan in Astana, September 15, 2009 – Photo: VGP | The leaders also exchanged their opinions on regional and international issues of common concern, showing pleasure at bilateral cooperation and collaboration on international forums. They agreed that, in 2010 when Việt Nam takes over the ASEAN Presidency and Kazakhstan becomes the Chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), there will be more favorable conditions for the two countries to enhance their mutual assistance in expanding ties with regional countries. PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng informed that Việt Nam decides to take part in the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) no longer as an observer but an official member. He highly spoke of Kazakhstan’s contributions to the forum as well as to peace and stability in the region and the world. |  | | M Nguyễn Tấn Dũng (L) and Kazakh PM Karim Massimov preside over the press briefing in Astana, September 15, 2009 – Photo: VGP | Both the host and guest leaders focused their discussion on the Việt Nam-Kazakhstan traditional bilateral relationship. They agreed to increase delegation exchange, especially at high level, for better mutual understanding and closer relations. The two PMs agreed on measures to boost economic, trade and investment cooperation, underscoring the need of perfecting the legal foundation for bilateral cooperation. They also pledged to create favorable conditions for their enterprises to do investment and business in their respective markets. Petroleum was considered a field of strategic and long-term cooperation. The leaders vowed to back the establishment of direct cooperation between the Việt Nam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) and Kazakhstan’s National Company KazMunaiGaz in exploring, exploiting, transporting, and refining oil and gas in the two countries and the third ones. Apart from economic activities, bilateral cooperation in science, technology, culture, education, tourism and labor will be promoted, assured the two PMs. |  | | Việt Nam and Kazakhstan sign many important cooperation documents in Astana, September 15, 2009 – Photo: VGP | | After their talk, the two PMs witnessed the signing of seven cooperation documents, including four inter-governmental agreements on investment, education–training, guest workers, and the travel of citizens; treaty on strategic cooperation between PetroVietnam and KazMunaiGaz; a memorandum of understanding between the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Kazakh Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources; and an agreement on cooperation between the two Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Also in the morning, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng had a meeting with the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Kazakhstan. By Xuân Hồng | 