Russia’s Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University) and its director Dr. A.V Torkunov have been awarded the Friendship Order of the Vietnamese State on the occasion of the institute’s 70th founding anniversary.

Minister of Justice Ha Hung Cuong handed over the honour to the awardees at a ceremony held at the university on October 14.

He also presented friendship medals to five the GIMO’s lecturers in recognition of their contributions to training diplomatic officials for Vietnam as well as to promoting the bilateral friendship.

Speaking at his meeting with Torkunov, Cuong thanked the MGIMO University for training Vietnamese diplomats, saying that it contributed to strengthening the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

He proposed the Russian institute further bolster links with Vietnamese partners in training and scientific research, especially in the fields of international law and trade, diplomacy and press.

For his part, Torkunov said his institute will continue to expand training cooperation with Vietnam in order to meet its increasing demand of high-quality human resources.

The day earlier, the Vietnamese minister received the institute’s silver honourary medal for his contributions to developing the political, economic and cultural ties between Russia and Vietnam.-VNA