Tashkent (VNA) – National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man had meetings with Speaker of the Federation Council (Upper House) of the Russian Federal Assembly Valentina Matviyenko, and Speaker of the India Lok Sabha (lower house) Om Birla in Uzbekistan on April 6, within the framework of the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-150).
Matviyenko affirmed that Russia always considers Vietnam as a comprehensive strategic partner and a reliable partner in Southeast Asia.
The two leaders highly valued the positive development of the traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation based on the Vietnam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, to which, the close coordination and effective cooperation between the Vietnamese NA and the Federation Council as well as the State Duma of the Russian Federal Assembly has made important contributions.
The two sides agreed to continue promoting all-level delegation exchanges, enhancing the effectiveness of cooperation mechanisms, including the Intergovernmental Committee, the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, and strategic dialogue; and improving the role of cooperation between the two legislative bodies in both bilateral and multilateral frameworks, contributing to deepening political trust and overcoming difficulties in cooperation across all areas, including defence-security, energy, and education-training, in line with the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and for the interests of the two nations.
They also agreed that parliamentary cooperation between the two countries will further contribute to implementing the Vietnam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework, thus promoting collaboration between the two countries in the fields of economy, trade, education- training, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.
Man called on the Russian side to continue creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community living, working, and studying in Russia.
At their meeting, Man and Birla highlighted the marked developments in the traditional friendship and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and India. They agreed to strengthen regular meetings at all levels and across all Party, NA, and government channels, and people-to-people exchanges.
They said the two sides should coordinate to materialise mechanisms, agreements, and cooperation documents effectively, including the joint statement on strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and an action programme for implementing this framework for the 2024-2028 period.
They agreed to continue promoting delegation exchanges, interactions, and meetings between the legislative bodies’ leaders; as well as enhancing experience sharing, especially in building and improving institutions and legal frameworks. The two sides pledged to closely coordinate in effectively implementing existing cooperation mechanisms, agreements, and documents between the two countries.
The two leaders also consented to take breakthrough measures to rapidly achieve the goal of doubling bilateral trade, and to further enhance investment ties.
They concurred to strengthen cooperation in other areas of mutual interest, including defence, security, tourism, culture, religion, and people-to-people exchange. They emphasised the need to soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding on tourism cooperation, consider simplifying procedures, and move towards short-term visa exemptions for tourists.
The leaders agreed to strengthen close coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, including parliamentary forums, for peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.
The same day, NA Chairman Man met with Belgian House Speaker Peter De Roover and Senate President Vincent Blondel, during which the two sides shared the view on the fruitful parliamentary cooperation between Vietnam and Belgium.
The two sides should coordinate in implementing the cooperation agreement between the legislative bodies in order to deepen the Vietnam-Belgium collaboration, they said.
Appreciating the Belgian Parliament's adoption of the resolution supporting Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange, Man expressed his hope that it will soon implement practical and specific projects to materialise the document. He also called on the Belgian side to encourage the legislatures of other European countries to issue similar resolutions.
The NA Chairman suggested the Belgian Parliament urge the European Commission (EC) to soon lift its IUU “yellow card” warning on Vietnamese seafood exports.
He also expressed hope that the Belgian Parliament will soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to further facilitate the operation of the two countries’ investors.
