Ho Chi Minh City will try its best to forge ties with Russian localities, thus deepening the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia, Le Thanh Hai, Secretary of the municipal Party Committee has said.

The Politburo member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee made the statement while receiving a delegation from the Russian State Duma, led by First Vice President Ivan Ivanovich Melnikov on December 25.

At the meeting, Secretary Hai said the visit offers a chance for the city to strengthen wide-ranging cooperation with Russian localities.

Over the past time, Ho Chi Minh City have maintained good relations with Saint Petersburg and Moscow, and hopes to expand cooperation with other localities in Russia, he added.

Expressing delights at the drastic developments of Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City in particular, Melnikov said he believes the city will gain more successes in the coming time and uphold its key role in Vietnam’s progress.

He pledged to support Russian localities in setting up ties with Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam at large.-VNA