Kazakhstan Ambassador to Vietnam, Beketzhan Zhumakhanov, summarisedhis country’s major new economic policy at a seminar in Hanoi onMarch 12.

The target of the policy, named ‘NurlyZhol’ (The Path to the Future), is to transform Kazakhstan into one ofthe five fastest-growing countries in Asia, the diplomat explained,adding that the nation also has ambitions of joining the top 50 mostcompetitive countries in the world.

The policycovers developing transport and industrial infrastructure, energy,modernising public housing service infrastructure, supplying clean waterand supporting small-and medium-sized enterprises, he noted.

The efforts will help Kazakhstan to improve the local livingstandards and increase the quality of social welfare policies, he said.

He proposed that Vietnam and Kazakhstan promote exchanges in the fields of culture, education, science and health.

The Ambassador said he welcomes all Vietnamese students who want topursue higher education in Kazakhstan , adding that this will open upsustainable opportunities for the strengthening of the two nation’scooperation in various areas.

Nguyen Quang Thuan,Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, saidKazakhstan is a potential country which has an important strategicposition in the middle of Asia and the Asia-Europe continents.

The two countries have coordinated in wide-ranging fields such aspolitics, economics and culture since the establishment of diplomaticrelations 20 years ago, he said.

Their bilateral trade currently tops 100 million USD per year.

A free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Customs Union ofRussia, Belarus and Kazakhstan is expected to open new doors for the twonations as they enhance their comprehensive cooperative ties acrossmany sectors, he added.-VNA