MOSCOW — Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev emphasised their resolve to enhance the countries’ partnership during their talks in Moscow yesterday.

The talks, also attended by the countries’ senior officials, took place following the welcome ceremony for the Vietnamese leader at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow.

Russian PM Medvedev congratulated the Communist Party of Việt Nam on successfully holding the 12th National Congress, which set up important guidelines for Việt Nam’s future development.

He welcomed the first visit to Russia by Nguyễn Xuân Phúc as the Vietnamese Government’s leader, adding that his country considered Việt Nam one of its top Asian-Pacific partners.

PM Phúc spoke highly of Russia’s development and its growing stature in the world. He stressed Việt Nam’s policy of promoting the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia.

Expressing delight at their countries’ growing political trust, the PMs agreed to continue all-level delegation exchanges and existing dialogue mechanisms.

They agreed to make efforts to shore up bilateral trade through creating favourable conditions for trade activities, fostering trade promotion events, boosting payment by using their domestic currencies, and capitalising on the Việt Nam–Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement, of which Russia is a member.

The leaders applauded Vietnamese and Russian ministries’ co-operation projects in energy, oil and gas, mining and agriculture.

Amid domestic and global economic difficulties, both sides agreed to support the oil and gas joint ventures in each country and strengthen collaboration in other areas such as petroleum refining and chemistry and liquefied gas production.

They affirmed the continuation of co-operation in defence–security, particularly in military techniques. They reinforced cooperation in other areas like science–technology, education–training, culture, tourism, labour, and between localities, bringing those connections on par with the countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership.

PM Phúc thanked Russia’s central and local authorities for providing good conditions for Vietnamese people, adding that the Vietnamese community would continue contributing to the two nations’ friendship.

At the talks, the two leaders discussed international and regional issues of mutual concern. They agreed to work more closely at multilateral forums such as the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation, the Asia-Europe Meeting, and ASEAN.

The Vietnamese side also expressed hope for the success of the ASEAN–Russia Summit to be held in Russia. The event, which marks the 20th founding anniversary of their dialogue relationship, will bring ASEAN–Russia relations to a new height.

With regard to recent developments in the East Sea, the PMs shared the view that disputes in the waters need to be solved through peaceful measures on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and efforts to push for a code of conduct.

They said they believe that the Vietnamese PM’s official visit to Russia would create momentum for the two countries’ co-operation.

PM Phúc invited Medvedev to visit Việt Nam. He accepted the invitation with pleasure.

After talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing of co-operation agreements between the two countries’ economic groups operating in the fields of oil and gas, investment, and cadres training.

They later held an international press conference to affirm the two governments’ standpoints on strengthening bilateral co-operation.

The Russian PM spoke highly of the visit to Russia by his Vietnamese counterpart and described it as a symbol of the two nations’ trust.

He said Russia was willing to co-operate with Việt Nam in various fields such as telecommunications, banking, automobile assembly, finance, machine manufacturing, shipbuilding, mineral mining and agriculture.

The two countries had advantages to boost major investment projects, he said, suggesting the pair attach more importance to exchanging farm produce.

PM Phúc highly valued the long-standing and close-knit rapport between Vietnamese and Russian people.

He noted that during the bilateral talks both sides discussed and agreed to increase two-way trade, which is standing at US$4 billion, via the exchange of goods that are of respective strengths.

The two government leaders also concurred to pushing ahead with co-operation programmes and projects in energy, oil and gas, breeding and farm produce, he said.

The two PMs said they agreed to prepare for the implementation of the free trade agreement (FTA) between Việt Nam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which is expected to take effect soon and bring opportunities to expand bilateral trade.

They agreed to expand co-ordination across fields of high potential, particularly tourism, services and advanced technology.

Việt Nam and Russia have established a comprehensive strategic partnership, so the two sides will boost and diversify their cooperation across the board to match their respective potential and meet the expectations of the two countries’ governments and people. — VNS