First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Ivan Melnikov. -- Photo duma.gov.ru

MOSCOW --  First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma (lower house) of Russia Ivan Melnikov has expressed high expectations for the upcoming official visit to his country by Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn and a high-ranking delegation of Việt Nam's National Assembly, considering it a long-awaited one.

Scheduled for September 8-10, the trip will see Mẫn co-chairing the third meeting of the Việt Nam-Russia Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee.

The deputy chairman said on the State Duma's website that the visit marks Mẫn’s first foreign trip since being elected to his new position in late May and that the State Duma highly values it. He noted the two countries’ top legislators maintain strong relations, ensuring effective cooperation between their legislative bodies.

The deputy chairman pointed out that the relationship between Russia and Việt Nam is on a positive trajectory. Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Việt Nam in June this year injected new momentum into bilateral relations, during which both sides signed numerous cooperation agreements in various fields that require legislative action. At his meeting with Mẫn in Hà Nội, Putin stressed that the enactment of legislative decisions will provide a solid and reliable foundation for cooperation between the two countries in the areas of economy, culture, and security.

Melnikov also noted that both sides are meticulously preparing for the third meeting of the Việt Nam-Russia Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee. The agenda will be comprehensive, addressing current issues that require immediate solutions such as interbank cooperation, support for sustainable bilateral trade growth, energy and fuel projects, construction, healthcare, and tourism. He said the two sides will issue a joint declaration on the outcomes of this meeting.

The legislator underscored that the third meeting, taking place right before the 25th session of the Việt Nam-Russia Intergovernmental Committee on Economic, Trade, and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, positively symbolises the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Melnikov also offered heartfelt words in remembrance of late Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, a Vietnamese leader who significantly contributed to the nations’ friendship and played a key role in establishing the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee.

He affirmed that the two legislative bodies would make every effort to strengthen their friendship and achieve positive results within the committee framework in memory of the late leader, for the benefit of both nations and their people. -- VNS