Standing Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh (L) meets Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the National Economy Serik Zhumangarin, Astana, February 2, 2026 - Photo: VGP

The meeting took place on the occasion of the Vietnamese official's working visit to the Central Asian country.

Zhumangarin emphasized that Kazakhstan is willing to serve as a 'golden gateway' for Viet Nam to access the Central Asian and European markets, expressing his hope that Viet Nam would likewise be a 'golden gateway' for Kazakhstan to reach the Southeast Asian market.

The Kazakh side plans to open a Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City and organize a Kazakhstan Cultural Week in Viet Nam, told the host, expressing thanks for Viet Nam's support at multilateral forums.

He called on the two sides to continue supporting each other's candidacies in international organizations.

Zhumangarin welcomed Viet Nam's establishment of the IFC, adding that Kazakhstan stands ready to facilitate cooperation between the Astana International Financial Centre and Viet Nam's International Financial Center.

Nguyen, for his part, reiterated that Viet Nam identifies the development of the IFC as a new driving force for rapid and sustainable growth.

He said that the two sides should step up exchanges of delegations and contacts at all levels, especially at the high level, in order to create a solid political foundation for expanding cooperation from traditional areas into new fields such as technology, green transition, digital transformation, and in particular cooperation between the two international financial centers.

Regarding connectivity between the two IFCs, Nguyen suggested Kazakhstan promote linkages among regulatory authorities, exchanges, issuers, and investors of the two countries.

The two Deputy Prime Ministers discussed issues relevant to the content of the Strategic Partnership framework that the two countries had established on the occasion of General Secretary To Lam's visit to Kazakhstan in May 2025.

The two sides pledged to increase bilateral trade turnover, with the establishment of the Viet Nam–Kazakhstan Business Council this year./.