Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc agreed to adopt measures to deepen the bilateral strategic partnership at a meeting in Moscow on May 16.
The Russian Prime Minister hailed the first Russia visit by Phuc in his capacity as Vietnam’s PM, saying Russia always regards Vietnam as one of its priority partners in Asia-Pacific, according to the Government website Chinhphu.vn.
Meanwhile, Phuc underlined Vietnam’s consistent policy to attach importance to consolidating and enhancing the traditional friendship and strategic partnership with Russia.
The two leaders agreed to continue exchanging delegations at all levels and maintain existing dialogue and consultation mechanisms.
Regarding economic and trade cooperation, Vietnam and Russian will strive to prop up bilateral trade by implementing a slew of new measures and create favorable conditions for enterprises of the two countries to boost trade and payments in their local currencies. They will be supported to make the most of opportunities from the free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Eurasia Economic Union as well as the FTAs that Vietnam has signed.
The leaders threw their weight behind oil and gas joint ventures between Russian and Vietnamese enterprises, cooperation in other fields such as petrochemicals and LPG production, and operation expansion in third countries.
Vietnam and Russia will continue close and effective coordination in national defense and security, especially in military technology, while facilitating cooperation in other potential areas like science-technology, education-training, culture, tourism, labor and cooperation among localities.
Bilateral trade between Vietnam and Russia reached US$2.2 billion last year and US$591 million in the first quarter of this year, according to the Vietnam News Agency
Russia now ranks 17th out of 101 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with total capital of US$2 billion pledged for 114 projects.
Vietnamese companies have registered US$2.93 billion for projects in Russia, mostly in oil and gas and trade. Some big projects include Rusvietpetro, Gazpromviet and the Hanoi Trade Centre in Moscow.
The leaders also discussed international and regional issues of mutual concern, and agreed to continue close coordination at multilateral forums like the United Nations, APEC, ASEM and ASEAN.
Regarding the recent complicated developments in the East Sea, they agreed territorial disputes must be settled by peaceful means and in line with international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC). They shared the same view that the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) needs to be concluded soon.
Phuc and Medvedev witnessed the signing of eight cooperation agreements in the fields of oil-gas, investment and training before they joined a joint press conference to announce the outcomes of their talks.
Phuc is visiting Russia to attend the Commemorative Summit to mark the 20th anniversary of the ASEAN-Russia dialogue relationship.
Source : http://english.thesaigontimes.vn/
Keyword : Vietnam, Russia, look to, stronger strategic partnership.
