Vietnam's Communist Party chief thanks Tokayev and people of Kazakhstan

Tengrinews.kz - General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam, expressed gratitude to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the people of Kazakhstan for the warm welcome and conveyed best wishes on behalf of Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong, citing the Akorda press service.

As previously reported, an official welcome ceremony for To Lam, who arrived in Kazakhstan on a state visit, was held at the Akorda residence.

"Vietnam and Kazakhstan have maintained close relations for decades. In August 1959, our President Ho Chi Minh paid an official visit to Kazakhstan, laying a solid foundation for the traditional friendship and long-term cooperation between our peoples. Since then, bilateral relations have steadily developed thanks to the efforts of generations of leaders and citizens. The Party and people of Vietnam will always be grateful for the support that Kazakhstan provided to our country in the past — in the struggle for national liberation — and continues to provide today in the process of development," said the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted the importance of holding Vietnam Culture Days in Kazakhstan, emphasizing that such events contribute to strengthening intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding between the two nations.

According to the Akorda press service, ahead of the military parade dedicated to Defender of the Fatherland Day, the Head of State also highlighted the contribution of Kazakh national Lieutenant General Zhansen Kereev to the development of military-technical cooperation between Kazakhstan and Vietnam.

The statement notes that in 1982, Zhansen Kereev was sent to Vietnam as the senior advisor to the General Staff of the People's Army, where he provided significant assistance in strengthening the country's defense capabilities and building its Armed Forces. On the initiative of Ho Chi Minh, he was awarded Vietnam’s highest military honor — the Order of the Red Banner.

"At the conclusion of the talks, the President of Kazakhstan expressed confidence that the visit of General Secretary To Lam would mark a new chapter in the history of traditionally friendly relations between the two countries," the Akorda press service noted.

Earlier, the press service of the President of Kazakhstan released footage of the official welcome ceremony for the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam, at the Akorda residence.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Aqorda (@akordapress)

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

To recap, To Lam arrived in Kazakhstan on May 5. Mazhilis 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.