President Truong Tan Sang put forward specific trade proposals at a Viet Nam-Azerbaijan business forum on Thursday, suggesting bringing two-way trade to US$1 billion and pledging to create optimal conditions for Azerbaijani businesses in Viet Nam.

The President spoke highly of the countries' bilateral trade, which topped $422 million in 2014, a year-on-year increase of 30 per cent.

He also noted areas with potential for stronger co-operation in labour, construction, healthcare and transport.

Sang then informed business representatives about recent agreements reached on future delegation exchanges and trade promotions. Bilateral co-operation in oil and gas was described as a long-term, strategic priority.

Earlier on Thursday, the President met with veteran Azerbaijani civilian and military experts who had once personally helped Viet Nam's national defence and construction projects.

Pleased with progress

He said he was pleased with the progress made in the two countries' relations, especially on political and economic fronts in recent years. He focused on important external policies and co-operative ties with countries like Azerbaijan that have flourished in 30 years of Viet Nam's doi moi (reform) process.

For their part, veteran Azerbaijan experts shared the President's sentiments about the growing friendship.

On Friday, summing up a week of meetings, President Sang met with the Vietnamese community in Azerbaijan, whom he described as an inseparable part of the nation.

He asked the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia and Azerbaijan to further support overseas Vietnamese doing business and to help popularise Vietnamese culture with international friends.