NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man's visit provides a valuable occasion to further advance cooperation across a wide range of areas: Turkish Ambassador

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and his spouse and a high-level Vietnamese delegation will attend IPU-152 in Istanbul (Turkey) and conduct a number of bilateral activities in Türkiye. (Source: National Assembly)

At the invitation of the President of the World Parliamentary Union (IPU) Tulia Ackson, IPU General Secretary Martin Chungong, National Assembly President Tran Thanh Man and his spouse and a high-level Vietnamese delegation will attend IPU-152 in Istanbul, Türkiye, conduct a number of bilateral activities in Türkiye and officially visit Italy from April 11-17.

On this occasion, Turkish Ambassador to Vietnam Korhan Kemik gave an interview to The World and Vietnam Report about the significance of the National Assembly Chairman's trip as well as the bright spots in the relationship between our two countries over the past time.

Your Excellency, the attendance of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man at IPU-152 and conduct a number of bilateral activities in Türkiye takes place at a time when our bilateral relations are flourishing. How do you assess the significance of this visit in strengthening political trust and deepening bilateral ties, particularly in the realm of parliamentary cooperation?

This visit carries particular significance as it comes at a time when Türkiye–Vietnam relations are on a strong and increasingly multidimensional trajectory. Vietnam is one of Türkiye’s most important partners in Southeast Asia, and our relations have been developing steadily in a spirit of friendship and solidarity. High-level exchanges have played a key role in sustaining this positive momentum.

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NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man to attend IPU-152 in Türkiye, visit Italy

In this context, the visit of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to Türkiye, on the occasion of the IPU Assembly in Istanbul, takes place at a juncture when our relations are advancing across multiple domains. This reflects the shared importance both sides attach to further strengthening bilateral relations.

In this regard, the parliamentary dimension of our relations remains a key pillar. Enhanced contacts and closer cooperation between our respective parliaments will make a valuable contribution to strengthening the overall framework of our bilateral ties. We are confident that this visit will further deepen parliamentary engagement and open new avenues for cooperation between our legislative bodies.

Türkiye holds a strategic geopolitical position as a gateway between Asia and Europe and is a leading partner of Vietnam in the Middle East. In your opinion, within the framework of this visit, what are the key priority areas that both sides should focus on promoting?

Türkiye’s position at the crossroads of Asia and Europe is not merely geographical; it is a strategic asset that creates tangible opportunities for partners such as Vietnam. Türkiye can serve as a gateway to surrounding regions, offering enhanced engagement and access across a wide range of markets and partnerships.

As two dynamic economies, Türkiye and Vietnam have significant potential to further expand economic, trade, and investment cooperation. Particular emphasis can be placed on emerging and transformative sectors, including disruptive technologies, digital transformation, innovation, and advanced manufacturing. At the same time, there is considerable scope to strengthen cooperation in infrastructure, logistics, and connectivity, which would support more resilient and diversified supply chains.

Given the importance both countries attach to science and technology, enhancing collaboration in scientific research, innovation ecosystems, and technology-driven industries should be a priority. Education and cultural exchanges also offer valuable avenues to deepen mutual understanding and foster long-term cooperation.

Finally, our shared commitment to effective multilateralism provides a solid foundation for closer coordination on regional and global issues. In this regard, both sides can explore opportunities to further align their positions and enhance cooperation within international platforms.

This visit is therefore both timely and opportune, providing a valuable occasion to further advance cooperation across a wide range of areas.

Turkish Ambassador to Vietnam Korhan Kemik. (Photo: Vietnamnet)

This year’s IPU is hosted in Türkiye with the theme “Nurturing hope, securing peace and ensuring justice for future generations.” What are your expectations regarding the coordination between Vietnam and Türkiye in contributing to regional and global peace and development, amidst the current landscape of conflicts and global security challenges?

The theme of this year’s Assembly is both timely and relevant. We are living in a period marked by heightened volatility, ongoing conflicts, deepening global mistrust, and increasingly complex crisis dynamics. In such an environment, the role of parliaments in advancing peace remains particularly important.

Both Türkiye and Vietnam are firm believers in multilateralism and share a strong commitment to peace, stability, and development. Türkiye places strong emphasis on the peaceful resolution of disputes and has made sustained efforts to contribute to peace and stability, including through mediation. Vietnam, for its part, has demonstrated a consistent and constructive approach in the international arena—reflected, for instance, in hosting the signing ceremony of the UN Cybercrime Convention and its participation in peace-related international initiatives—underscoring its commitment to multilateral cooperation.

Building on these shared values, there is meaningful scope for Türkiye and Vietnam to further strengthen coordination—both within the Inter-Parliamentary Union and other multilateral platforms—to promote peace, support sustainable development, and advance cooperative approaches to shared challenges.

Vietnam and Türkiye have provided timely mutual support during difficult times, notably after the 2023 earthquake in Türkiye. How do you evaluate the people-to-people diplomacy between our two nations, and how will this high-level visit further strengthen the bond of friendship between our two peoples?

The solidarity shown by Vietnam in the aftermath of the 2023 earthquake in Türkiye was deeply appreciated by the Turkish people. Such gestures, rooted in genuine friendship, carry a meaning that goes well beyond formal cooperation and reflect the strong human foundation of our bilateral relationship. In the same spirit, Türkiye extended its support to Vietnam following Typhoon Yagi, demonstrating the mutual nature of this solidarity.

People-to-people ties constitute one of the most enduring pillars of our partnership. Exchanges in tourism, education, culture, and business contribute to building lasting connections between our societies. These interactions not only bring our peoples closer together but also reinforce mutual understanding, trust, and goodwill at every level.

High-level visits such as this one play an important role in further nurturing these bonds. They enhance visibility, encourage broader engagement between our societies, and reaffirm the strength of the friendship that unites our nations. We are confident that Chairman Tran Thanh Man’s visit will leave a lasting and positive impression, and we look forward to welcoming him warmly to Türkiye.

Thank you very much!

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