Party chief expects stronger ties with Russia on upcoming visit
Bilateral cooperation covers most areas,
ranging from politics; economics, trade and investment; energy, oil, gas
and nuclear power; to national defence and security, he told the
Russian news agency TASS, adding that Vietnamese and Russian localities
were also expected to join the effort via regular exchanges.
The visit takes place at a time when the bilateral comprehensive
strategic partnership has been progressing nicely. Nguyen Phu Trong will
join President V.Putin and other Russian leaders in taking stock of the
implementation of high-level agreements reached in the past as well as
the progress of major projects.
The leader also
highlighted the role and significance of regular exchanges and dialogue
mechanisms at all levels, saying that the two countries considered them a
crucial tool to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership that
came into being in 2012, thereby enhancing political trust and relations
between the two States, governments and legislative bodies.
In line with the diplomatic policy of independence, self-control,
peace, cooperation and development, multilateralisation, diversification
and international integration, Vietnam continuously regards Russia as
one of the most important and trustworthy partners, Nguyen Phu Trong
said.
Asked what the most progressive fields in the
bilateral partnership are, the Party chief listed economics, trade,
energy, national defence-security, education-training,
science-technology, and culture.
Two-way trade soared
to approximately 4 billion USD last year from 300-400 million USD in
the 1990s. In addition to Vietsovpetro, oil and gas ventures such as
Rusvietpetro, Vietagazprom and Gazpromviet are operating effectively.
Since energy is a traditional cooperation field, Vietnam is actively
building Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant with Russian support in
financing, technology and human resources.
Joint
efforts in mining, metallurgy, education-training, science-technology,
outer space exploration and people-to-people exchanges will become more
expansive since a high-level working group on priority projects was
established.
Both nations regularly hold cultural
exchanges and extend collaboration on tourism. Russia is amongst the top
10 sources of tourist arrivals in Vietnam.
In the
coming time, Vietnam and Russia will further strengthen their political,
diplomatic and economic ties based on the three pillars of trade,
investment and energy.
Elaborating on Vietnam’s role
in the expansion of the Russia-ASEAN relationship, the Vietnamese leader
recalled the second ASEAN-Russia Summit hosted by Vietnam in 2010, with
the ASEAN member states supporting Russia’s participation in regional
forums in which ASEAN plays a decisive role, including the East Asia
Summit (EAS) and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus. Russia
attended the fifth EAS in 2010 in Vietnam as a guest and officially
joined other meetings in 2011.
Vietnam is also
working with Russian and other ASEAN member states to prepare for the 20
th anniversary of the ASEAN-Russia dialogue partnership.
In the coming time, the country will continue to be a bridge between
ASEAN and Russia and find a common voice in key global and regional
issues, especially those directly affecting their common interests in
the maintenance of regional peace, security and stability, including the
East Sea issue.
Together with ASEAN and Russia,
Vietnam will also actively and proactively identify limitations in their
partnership and seek solutions to them, the leader promised.-VNA