'It’s a signal': Why To Lam came to Kazakhstan

Tengrinews.kz – On May 5, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam, arrived in Kazakhstan. Mazhilis deputy Nikita Shatalov reflected on the purpose of this high-level visit.

In his Telegram channel, Shatalov emphasized that this is the first contact of such level between the two countries in recent years.

“Chronologically, the visit precedes To Lam's participation in the Victory Parade in Moscow, but Kazakhstan is not just a transit point. It is an independent, multi-layered political choice. Firstly, under To Lam, Vietnam is actively reinforcing the agency of its foreign policy. While strategic relations are being built with both China and the US, Kazakhstan is viewed as a platform for neutral yet geopolitically significant partnership.

Hanoi sees Kazakhstan as a country closely tied to China and Russia, yet not absorbed in their agendas, while maintaining active dialogue with the EU and the US. Since the 1980s, Vietnam has consistently pursued a multi-vector foreign policy known as the ‘bamboo policy’ — flexible, yet resilient,” Shatalov explained.

Secondly, he noted that for Vietnam, Kazakhstan offers access to Central Asia. For Kazakhstan, Vietnam represents one of the fastest-growing markets in Southeast Asia (with an average GDP growth of around 7% over the past 10 years), offering direct access to the RCEP and the Pacific region.

According to Shatalov, this context could lead to discussions on connecting logistics routes (Trans-Caspian corridor – Vietnam’s seaports), energy and technological cooperation, market access, and coordination in UN and Non-Aligned Movement platforms, which are gaining new momentum amid the rising agency of the Global South.

“Thirdly, To Lam’s persona gives this visit special weight. He’s not just a party leader — he’s a security official who has consolidated control over both the internal and foreign agenda. His visits are always purposeful and symbolic. Traditionally, CPV general secretaries acted as internal arbiters, but To Lam has expanded that role: in less than a year, he has visited China, Malaysia, Singapore, the US — and now Kazakhstan.

In Astana, he will meet with our President — a seasoned diplomat with unique expertise on the region and the EU, especially relevant in the context of Trump’s actions and the escalation of the trade war, which also affects Vietnam. This is not a routine meeting — it’s a dialogue between two heavyweights from different spheres — diplomacy and internal security,” Shatalov emphasized.

The deputy called To Lam’s visit a signal: the zone of Asian cooperation is expanding. According to him, middle powers don’t want to be pawns in a game between superpowers. They are learning to shape their own partnership strategies — in the interests of free trade, sovereignty, and sustainable prosperity.

“This is what truly brings Hanoi and Astana closer today — much more than it may seem at first glance,” Shatalov concluded.