Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh (r) receives Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Hà Nội yesterday.— VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov agreed on measures to boost bilateral ties during their talks in Hà Nội yesterday.

They lauded the steady growth of bilateral ties in the past few years, especially the political relationship with strong trust which has laid a solid foundation for the sustainable and dynamic development of the Việt Nam – Russia comprehensive strategic partnership. 

Both sides agreed to increase all-level exchanges and improve the efficiency of existing co-operation, dialogue and consultation mechanisms, and accelerate negotiations and signing of new deals to create legal foundations for all-around ties. 

Hailing the positive outcomes of the Việt Nam - Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (VN-EAEU FTA), they agreed to further strive to lift two-way trade to US$10 billion by 2020. The figure rose 31 per cent year-on-year to $3.55 billion in 2017.

Discussing regional and global issues of shared concern, host and guest stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region, ensuring security, maritime and overflight safety and freedom, respecting diplomatic and legal processes and peacefully settling disputes in the East Sea (South China Sea) in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. 

Concluding the talks, both sides signed a co-operation plan between the two foreign ministries for the 2019-2020 period. 

Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng (r) receives Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Hà Nội yesterday.— VNA/VNS Photo Trí Dũng

Russia’s friendship

Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng met with Lavrov on the same day, saying that the Party, State and people of Viet Nam always treasure the traditional friendship with Russia and give top priority to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Party chief stressed that the deepening reliable political relations between senior leaders of Việt Nam and Russia is a firm foundation to further step up co-operative ties in other fields.

Việt Nam is always prioritised in Russia’s foreign policy and is a leading partner of Russia in the Asian-Pacific region, said Lavrov, adding that Russia always wants to witness Việt Nam’s strong development and growingly important position in the region and the world as well. 

The minister affirmed that the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will spare no effort to accelerate the implementation of bilateral co-operation agreements in all spheres, thereby creating practical changes in relations between the two nations in the coming time.

President Trần Đại Quang (r) receives Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Hà Nội yesterday.— VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sáng

Economic co-operation

President Trần Đại Quang also received with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov yesterday, during which he reiterated Việt Nam’s wish to foster fruitful bilateral co-operation in all spheres. 

The two sides should actively carry out the signed agreement on co-operation in controlling the quality and safety of agro-forestry-fishery products so as to boost trade links, the President said, asking Russia to consider permitting more Vietnamese businesses to export aquatic products to the country. 

President Quang also called on both sides to create favourable conditions for their oil and gas businesses to co-operate effectively within Viet Nam-Russia joint ventures in the two countries. 

The State leader said that Viet Nam is finalising procedures to ratify a protocol amending the protocol on supporting the production of motorised transportation vehicles in Việt Nam. 

Việt Nam is willing to assist the formation of automobile joint ventures in the country, he said, adding that Việt Nam supports Russian firms to participate in new co-operation projects on energy and transport infrastructure. 

The President proposed the Russian side back Vietnamese-invested projects in Russia, thus contributing to the enhancement of economic, trade and investment co-operation between the two countries. 

Việt Nam wants to continue working with Russia in using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, he said, suggesting that the two sides soon conclude negotiations on an inter-governmental agreement on using and developing the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), aiming to enhance co-operation in information and communications as well as exploiting universal space for peaceful purposes. 

Briefing the host on the results of his talks with Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh, Lavrov said that both sides recognised the expansion of the Russia-Việt Nam co-operation, especially in the field of oil and gas, adding that the two sides also discussed the construction of a liquefied petroleum gas-fuelled power plant in Việt Nam, as well as the modernisation of Việt Nam’s railway sector. 

Russia highly evaluates co-operation prospects between the two countries in defence-security and military technology, he added.

Labour export

The President suggested Russia support Việt Nam in training human resources, create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to reside, work and do business in Russia, and work with Việt Nam to promote culture exchanges and tourism promotion between the two nations. 

The Vietnamese leader also urged the two sides to soon begin negotiations and sign an agreement on labour co-operation, making it easier for Viet Nam to send workers to Russia. 

Lavrov reaffirmed the Russian Government’s stance to solve citizen-related issues in line with its current legal regulations, saying that Russia is ready to discuss new legal mechanisms, including those related to the sending of Vietnamese labourers to work legally in Russia and increasing scholarships for Vietnamese students. — VNS