National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn on Thursday meets with Tolstoy Petr Olegovich, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s State Duma. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn on Thursday met with Tolstoy Petr Olegovich, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s State Duma (lower house), who is in Việt Nam to attend the state funeral of Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng.

Remarking that the late Party General Secretary was a close friend of the Russian people and made significant contributions to the establishment and development of the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership, Mẫn underscored Việt Nam's commitment to upholding his legacy regarding the bilateral relations.

The top legislator said Vietnamese people always remember the whole-hearted support provided by the Russian people for Việt Nam's past struggle for national liberation as well as current efforts to build and protect the country. Việt Nam wishes to enhance cooperation with Russia across all fields for mutual benefit and for peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.

He called for the effective implementation of cooperation agreements between the two countries’ parliaments and for stronger collaboration between their parliamentary friendship groups and other parliamentary units.

For his part, Tolstoy affirmed that the comprehensive strategic partnership with Việt Nam is a priority in Russia's foreign policy.

Stressing the countries’ traditional friendship and high level of trust, he said it is necessary to develop the ties further in the time to come, particularly in the sectors of economy, politics, and to increase exchanges of issues of mutual concern. — VNS