Viet Nam and Azerbaijan are looking to strengthen cultural cooperation, with a focus on cinema and people-to-people exchanges, officials said during a meeting in Hanoi on May 5.

The view was shared during the meeting between Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong and Chairman of Azerbaijan’s State Committee on Work with Diaspora Fuad Muradov, who was visiting Viet Nam on the occasion of the launch of the book “What I Saw in Viet Nam” by filmmaker Ajdar Ibrahimov.

Dong highlighted the pivotal role of culture, sports and tourism, describing them as essential elements of modern life that can help strengthen ties between nations. He welcomed Azerbaijan’s efforts to promote cooperation programmes and expressed confidence that future initiatives would deliver positive results.

Muradov, for his part, said relations between the two countries have developed steadily across multiple sectors, including politics, education, culture and sports. He conveyed greetings from the Azerbaijani government to Viet Nam and expressed optimism about further expanding bilateral ties.

He also recalled key milestones in the relationship, including the 2014 visit to Viet Nam by President Ilham Aliyev and the 2015 visit to Azerbaijan by former Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang, noting that such high-level exchanges have reinforced political trust.

Both sides emphasised the role of culture as a bridge connecting the two peoples and deepening mutual understanding. Muradov noted that the diaspora committee, which he has headed since 2018, not only implements policies for overseas Azerbaijanis but also promotes international cooperation in education, culture, society and sports.

Regarding the book launch organised by the Embassy of Azerbaijan, Muradov said the publication honours the legacy of Ajdar Ibrahimov, a filmmaker who had close ties with Viet Nam and made significant contributions during the early years of the country’s revolutionary cinema.

Dong described the book as both a cultural product and a milestone in bilateral cultural exchange, expressing hope that the two countries would expand cooperation through exchanges and joint activities in culture, arts, sports and tourism.

The two sides also discussed the effective implementation of a cultural cooperation agreement signed in 2025, viewing it as a key framework for future initiatives.
Muradov shared positive impressions of Viet Nam, particularly its economic development and the industrious spirit of its people. He noted that while the Azerbaijani community in Viet Nam is relatively small, it plays an active role in fostering people-to-people ties.

The two sides agreed to step up coordination and tap cooperation potential in culture, especially film, seen as a sustainable pillar of Viet Nam–Azerbaijan relations.

Source: VOV

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