Tengrinews.kz – The official welcoming ceremony for To Lam, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, who arrived in Kazakhstan on a state visit, was held at Akorda.
Following the ceremonial welcome of the Vietnamese delegation, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and To Lam held closed-door talks.
The President of Kazakhstan described the General Secretary’s first visit to Astana as a vivid confirmation of the strong friendship between the two countries.
“Vietnam is an important partner for Kazakhstan in Asia. Our aspirations for prosperity largely align. Two years ago, during my official visit to Vietnam, we agreed to develop new areas of bilateral cooperation. Next month will mark 33 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries. I am confident that the friendly ties between our peoples will continue to strengthen. We are always ready to make efforts to achieve common goals and solve shared challenges,” said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
To Lam thanked Kazakhstan for its warm hospitality and expressed confidence that the outcomes of today’s negotiations would expand the horizons of Kazakhstan–Vietnam relations.
“The fact that our delegation chose to visit your country just two years after your visit to Vietnam shows the active development of cooperation between our states and demonstrates a high level of mutual trust. Kazakhstan will become Vietnam’s first strategic partner in Central Asia,” noted the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Earlier, the press service of the President of Kazakhstan released footage of the official welcoming ceremony of To Lam at the Akorda residence.
Посмотреть эту публикацию в Instagram
'It’s a signal': Why To Lam came to Kazakhstan
To recap, To Lam arrived in Kazakhstan on May 5. Majilis deputy Nikita Shatalov commented on the visit’s objectives in his Telegram channel, noting that this is the first contact of such high level between the two countries in recent years.
"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.