Vietnam, Azerbaijan strengthen ties in ethnic and religious cooperation

Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs of Vietnam, Dao Ngoc Dung, met with Ramin Mammadov, Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations of Azerbaijan, on May 6 as part of the ongoing United Nations Day of Vesak 2025 celebrations.

During the meeting, the two officials discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation in the fields of religion and ethnic affairs, Caliber.Az reports via Vietnamese media.

Minister Dung warmly welcomed the Azerbaijani delegation and expressed his pleasure at Mammadov’s visit, particularly as it coincided with the international Buddhist celebration. He highlighted the recent establishment of the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs in Vietnam, a move aimed at improving the country’s management of ethnic and religious issues and fostering stronger state oversight in these domains.

Chairman Mammadov, in turn, expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and reinforced the longstanding friendship between Azerbaijan and Vietnam. He also underscored the significance of upcoming diplomatic visits, including the anticipated trip by General Secretary To Lam, which he believes will further solidify the bilateral ties.

In a bid to formalize and strengthen the relationship between the two countries, Mammadov proposed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the respective ministries overseeing religious and ethnic affairs. The MoU, he suggested, would create a framework for mutual learning, cultural exchange, and the transmission of core values to future generations.

“Our country has a rich cultural heritage that we wish to share with the world. Likewise, we hope that countries such as Vietnam will help introduce Azerbaijani culture to global audiences. We especially hope Vietnam will support Azerbaijan’s initiatives related to religious development,” Mammadov stated.

The Azerbaijani official also proposed the creation of a dialogue forum to promote the unique religious and cultural identities of both nations.

Minister Dung praised the close relationship between the two countries and congratulated Azerbaijan on its growing focus on religious development. He expressed optimism about the future of the bilateral ties, particularly in light of General Secretary To Lam’s upcoming visit.

“I hope the friendship between our two countries continues to flourish. I understand Azerbaijan is actively advancing religious growth, and I believe General Secretary To Lam’s visit will elevate our relationship to a new level,” Minister Dung said.

Reflecting on Vietnam’s historical experience, Minister Dung spoke about the country’s hard-earned appreciation for independence and religious freedom. “We just celebrated the 50th anniversary of national reunification. That victory came at a great cost - 1.2 million martyrs, 800,000 wounded veterans, and war-related trauma that continues into the third generation. For this reason, Vietnam cherishes its freedom and peace, including religious freedom,” he said.

Minister Dung reiterated Vietnam's full support for Azerbaijan’s religious development initiatives, affirming, “We fully support Azerbaijan’s proposals and look forward to establishing deeper, stronger, and more concrete cooperation in ethnic and religious affairs.”

Concluding the meeting, Minister Dung expressed his gratitude to the Azerbaijani delegation for the invitation and confirmed his intention to visit Azerbaijan through diplomatic channels, further cementing the growing ties between the two nations.

By Vafa Guliyeva