Prime Minister Dung will pay official visits to Kazakhstan from September 14 - 15, Denmark from September 16-17 and Hungary from September 18-19. The visits are made at the invitation of Kazakhstani Prime Minister Carim Masimov, Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Hungarian Prime Minister Bajnai Gordon.

The visits will take place at a time when Vietnam is achieving significant growth in all fields: stable socio-politics, and an average economic growth rate of 7-8 percent per year as it integrates into the regional and international economy. To cope with the global financial crisis, Vietnam is implementing strict measures to contain inflation, stabilise the macro-economy, and ensure socio-security to achieve positive results. Vietnam’s GDP in 2008 increased by 6.23 percent and aims to reach 5 percent in 2009.

Kazakhstan, Denmark and Hungary have established friendship and multilateral co-operative ties with Vietnam and are implementing multilateral external relations policies to strengthen ties with all countries in the world, and they have great potential to boost co-operation with Vietnam.

Vietnam-Kazakhstan: Political ties between the two countries are developing well. Former Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet visited Kazakhstan in 1994 and Kazakhstan supported Vietnam in becoming a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2008-2009 term. The two countries recognised each other’s market economy status.

The economic relations between the two counties is still modest with a two-way trade turnover in 2008 of US$96 million (up 40 percent compared to 2007). Kazakhstan has great potential in the oil and mining industries.

Vietnam-Denmark: Over the past years, friendship and multilateral co-operative relations between Vietnam and Denmark have been developing well and the two countries often exchange high-ranking visits. Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung visited Denmark in late June 2008 and members of the Danish Royal Family will visit Vietnam in late 2009.

In terms of trade and economic relations: Two-way trade turnover between the two countries has increased by 10-15 percent each year, reaching US$318 million in 2008. Danish FDI in Vietnam was US$400 million, ranking 22^nd among foreign investors. Denmark is one of the biggest donors to Vietnam with total non-refundable aid of around US$1 billion. In 2008, Denmark decided to finance US$40 million to help Vietnam cope with climate change.

Vietnam-Hungary: The traditional friendship and multilateral co-operative ties between Vietnam and Hungary is constantly being consolidated and strengthened through exchanging high-ranking visits. In 2008 National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong visited Hungary and Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom also visited Vietnam. The two countries also supported each other on the international forums. Hungary supported Vietnam’s entry to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and becoming a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2008-2009 term.

The value of two-way trade between the two countries reached US$100 million in 2008, up 25 percent compared to 2007. Hungary committed to provide US$49.5 million in non-refundable aid in 2007.

PM Dung’s visits to the three countries aims to implement external policies of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of international relations; strengthen friendship and multilateral co-operation with traditional friends, heighten Vietnam’s position and prestige in Europe and the world; and make co-operative relations between Vietnam and other countries deeper and more effective. They also aim to encourage more foreign businesses to invest in Vietnam and urge these countries to create conditions for Vietnamese people to work and live there.