Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc was welcomed at Vnukovo International Airport (Source: VNA)
Moscow (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc arrived at Vnukovo International Airport, Moscow, on May 16, to begin his official visit to Russia where he will attend the Russia-ASEAN Summit in Sochi.
He was welcomed at the airport by Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov who represented President Vladimir Putin, other Russian Government officials and Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Son, among others.
The visit is significant to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries as this is the first trip abroad by Nguyen Xuan Phuc as Vietnamese Prime Minister.
It takes place in the context that the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership is developing strongly in numerous fields such as politics, economics, defence security, science and technology, education and training, and culture.
The visit aims to realise Vietnam’s foreign policy set forth at the 12th National Party Congress and actualise a free trade agreement between the Southeast Asian country and the Eurasian Economic Union approved by President Vladimir Putin on May 1, gearing towards bilateral trade of 10 billion USD in 2020.
The two-way trade volume between Vietnam and Russia reached 2.2 billion USD in 2015, and 591 million USD in the first quarter this year.
Currently Russia ranks 17 out of 101 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with a total capital of 2 billion USD in 114 projects. Russian companies have mainly invested in mining, processing and the manufacturing industry in Vietnam.
Vietnamese companies have invested 2.93 billion USD in Russia, mostly in oil and gas, and trade, with some big projects like Rusvietpetro, Gazpromviet and the Hanoi Trade Centre in Moscow.
Within the framework of the tour, the two sides will review the implementation of their major projects in specific areas, while discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern.
Meanwhile, the Commemorative Summit to mark the 20th anniversary of the ASEAN-Russia dialogue relationship takes place amid positive progress in bilateral ties.
At the meeting, Russian and ASEAN leaders will discuss and draw up guidelines for strengthening the ASEAN-Russia Partnership and to make it more practical and effective in the future.-VNA
