Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedevdiscussed measures to further promote partnership between the two countries in variousfields during their talks in Hanoi on November 19 as part of the latter’s officialvisit to Vietnam.
PM Phuc affirmedVietnam’s consistent policy of treasuring and prioritising its traditionalfriendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia.
PM Dmitry Medvedev saidthat Russia considers Vietnam as one of its most important partners in theAsia-Pacific region.
The two leaders sharedtheir delight at the strong political trust between Vietnam and Russia, withregular meetings and delegation exchanges at all levels, especially those of a highlevel.
They agreed tocoordinate closely in organising the Vietnam Year in Russia and the Russia Yearin Vietnam in 2019 and 2020, on the occasion of 25 years since the signing ofthe Agreement on Basic Principles for Vietnam-Russia Friendship and the 70thanniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties.
The two PMs hailed theoutcomes of the 21st meeting of the Vietnam-Russia Inter-Governmental Committeeon economic-trade and science-technology cooperation in Moscow in late October2018.
They held that theeconomic, trade, and investment partnership between the two countries has growndynamically over the past years, along with the effective implementation of theFree Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union.
To bring into full play benefits brought bythe agreement, both sides promised to coordinate and gradually address barrierson the import and export of goods, especially agro-fishery-forestry products,with the aim to raise two-way trade to 10 billion USD by 2020.
The PMs conveyed satisfaction with theresults of oil and gas cooperation, considering it one of the important pillarsin Vietnam-Russia collaboration. They vowed to continue facilitating oil andgas exploration and exploitation on Vietnam’s continental shelf and Russia’sterritory, and encouraged the expansion of cooperation in other fields such asliquefied natural gas (LNG) and gas power supply.
Both agreed to step up large-scale projectsin the fields of energy, industry, transport, agriculture, and expandcollaboration in information, digital technology, and e-Government.
They affirmed their commitment to carryingout a 350-million-USD Nuclear Science and Technology Centre, while encouragingcooperation to develop urban transport infrastructure and railways in Vietnam.
The two leaders reached a consensus on theimportance of security and defence cooperation; on the intensifying of collaborationin the fields of science-technology, culture, tourism, education-training, andlabour; as well as on the advancement of partnerships between their localities.
PM Phuc took the occasion to thank Russianleaders and authorised offices for helping the Vietnamese community in thecountry, hoping for their continued support.
The PMs also exchanged views on differentregional and international issues of mutual concern and stressed the need tomaintain peace and stability. This involves ensuring aviation and navigationsecurity, safety, and freedom in the East Sea towards solving disputespeacefully on the basis of respecting international law, including the UNConvention on the Law of the Sea 1982, fully and effectively implementing theDeclaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and working towards theearly signing of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.
Both sides affirmed to maintaincoordination at multilateral forums, foster cooperation within the framework ofthe United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, theAsia-Europe Meeting, and the ASEAN-Russia cooperation, for the interests of thetwo peoples, and for peace, stability, and development in the region and theworld.
They expressed their belief that theoutcomes of the visit will contribute to boosting the bilateral relations inall fields.
PM Medvedev took the occasion to invite PMPhuc to visit Russia in the coming time. The Vietnamese leader accepted theinvitation with pleasure. –VNA
VNA
