Hanoi (VNA) – Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Uong Chu Luu affirmed Vietnam’scommitment to expanding partnership with Azerbaijan in many areas whileaddressing a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the firstlegislative body of Azerbaijan on September 21.

Luu said that theState and people of Vietnam have always followed closely and is pleased at thestrong growth of Azerbaijan.

He highlighted that Vietnamesepeople always remember the great support that Azerbaijani people have givenVietnam in the past struggle for independence as well as today’s nationalconstriction.

He also hailed therole of Azerbaijan’s parliament in the country’s political system and in fosteringfriendship with other countries in the world, including Vietnam.

Earlier,NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu had a meeting with First Deputy Speaker of theAzerbaijan Parliament Ziyafet Askerov to discuss a range of cooperation issues,including increasing delegation exchange at all levels and channels.

Luusuggested that the two sides continue optimise the consultation mechanism andcoordinate with each other at multilateral forums such as theInter-Parliamentary Union.

The two sides agreedthat economic and trade relations between the two countries have recovered buthave yet to meet their potential.

Two-way trade in 2017reached 252 million USD, 2.5 times higher than that of 2016, but was still muchlower than 422 million USD in 2014, they noted, adding that the two sides areall strong in oil and gas exploitation which is an advantageous conditions for Azerbaijanifirms to engage in oil and gas as well as power infrastructure projects inVietnam.

Luu expressed hopethat the parliament of Azerbaijan supports the stance of Vietnam and ASEANcountries on the settlement of East Sea disputes through peaceful measureswithout using or threatening to use force, on the basis of international law,including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, thus contributing tomaintaining peace, stability and development in the region.

For his part, Ziyafet Askerov agreed with proposals of Vietnam, pledging to continue promotingbilateral relations. He revealed that the Chairman of the Azerbaijan Parliament willvisit Vietnam soon.

Vietnamand Azerbaijan set up their diplomatic relations in 1992. The two sides have establishedcooperation in various fields from politics, economy, trade, energy toeducation and science-technology. The ties were strengthened through the 2014visit to Vietnam by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev and Azerbaijan visit byPresident Truong Tan Sang in 2015.

Duringhis stay, NA Vice Chairman Luu also visited the Baku State University where heis an alumnus. The university plans to launch a Vietnamese language facultysoon.-VNA