Deputy Prime Minister speaks at a meeting between Vietnamese and Russian businesses in Moscow, Russia. — VNA/VNS Photo Tâm Hằng

MOSCOW — Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng on Tuesday chaired a meeting in Moscow between representatives of 100 Vietnamese and Russian businesses with the aim of fostering partnerships.

The Deputy PM lauded the efforts of Vietnamese entrepreneurs in Russia in carrying out investment and charity activities in the homeland, as well as their solidarity and mutual support.

Việt Nam and Russia have shared a time-honoured relationship and close partnership in many areas, he said, adding that Việt Nam is currently the only strategic partner of Russia in the Asia-Pacific region.

He said that, over a decade as strategic partners, economics and trade have been a spotlight in the all-round ties between the two countries.

Dũng, who is accompanying PM Nguyễn Xuân Phúc during his Russia visit, said the PM’s visit would further deepen the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership and seek new development orientations for the future.

In 2020, Việt Nam and Russia will celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations, which has had great achievements across politics-diplomacy, economy-trade, security-defence, science-technology, education-training, culture and tourism.

Việt Nam-Russia ties have intensified in the four major pillars of trade, investment, oil and gas, and electricity. Two-way trade has been rising, while cooperation models have been diversified.

In 2018, trade between the two countries reached US$4.57 billion, up 28.6 per cent from 2017, which is hoped to hit $10 billion in 2020, noted the Deputy PM, praising the significant role of Vietnamese entrepreneurs in Russia in promoting Vietnamese products in the market.

The Deputy PM said that Việt Nam is speeding up industrialisation and modernisation, requiring entrepreneurs, especially those abroad, to attract more investments to the homeland and seek markets for Vietnamese products. 

Việt Nam has been pursuing an external policy of independence, self-reliance, multi-lateralisation and diversification of its relations, becoming a friend with all countries and engaging in many bilateral and multilateral trade agreements and new-generation free trade deals.

This has created good conditions and opportunities for Việt Nam to lure more investment, he said.

He expressed his hope that Vietnamese entrepreneurs in Russia would continue reforming business and production methods to meet market demands, while improving coordination with their peers at home to expand markets in the region.

The chairman of the Vietnamese Entrepreneurs’ Association in Russia, Lê Trường Sơn, said the meeting was a good chance for businesses of both sides to share experiences and enhance mutual understanding.

At the event, participants worked together to seek business and investment partnerships. — VNS