MOSCOW — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc asked the Vietnamese and Russian legislative bodies to enhance co-operation in the international arena during a meeting with the Speaker of Russia’s State Duma, Sergei Naryshkin, in Moscow yesterday. 

The Vietnamese leader, who is on his first official visit to Russia as Prime Minister, congratulated Russia on its socio-economic development and its growing standing in the world. The State Duma was crucial to those successes, he said. 

Intensifying comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia is a Vietnamese priority, according to the Prime Minister. 

The State Duma Speaker hailed Việt Nam’s impressive development. He also congratulated the Communist Party of Việt Nam on a successful 12th National Congress, which set forth major orientations for the country’s development for the coming years. 

The Russian State Duma and all the parties that have seats in the lower house - including the United Russia party, the Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party, and the Fair Russia Party - supported reinforcing the comprehensive strategic partnership with Việt Nam, he noted. 

At the meeting, both sides rejoiced over the flourishing partnership. The success of this partnership is evident in the tightened political relations with high mutual trust and in the regular delegation exchanges at all levels that have increased the countries’ all-faceted co-operation. 

Both sides voiced delight at the close co-ordination between Việt Nam’s National Assembly and Russia’s Federal Assembly, which will celebrate the 60th anniversary of their co-operation relationship this year. They also applauded the two parliaments’ frequent meetings and sharing of information and experience, which have greatly contributed to growth in their respective nations. 

PM Phúc asked the two parliaments to ensure the effects and enforceability of the international treaties that both Việt Nam and Russia have participated in, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. 

PM Phúc also delivered National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân’s invitation for Sergei Naryshkin to visit Việt Nam. 

The Vietnamese delegation laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a war memorial dedicated to Russian soldiers killed during World War II, in Moscow yesterday. They also paid homage to V.I. Lenin, the great leader of the working class and of the international Communist movement, at his mausoleum in the Russian capitol city.

Yesterday PM Phúc also called on Zarubezhneft – one of Russia’s leading oil and gas groups. 
The PM spoke highly of the effective co-operation between the Việt Nam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) and Zarubezhneft, evidenced by their joint ventures Vietsovpetro and Rusvietpetro, considered a vivid symbol of the Việt Nam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership. 

The Vietnamese Government has always provided all possible support for sustainable, long-term and mutually-beneficial collaboration between the two countries, as well as between PetroVietnam and Zarubezhneft, he said. 
 

In that spirit, he expressed his support of firms which study and expand the exploration of oil and gas in the two countries and in third-party countries.

The PM also suggested seeking new forms of co-operation, especially in processing petroleum products, manufacturing engine fuels and applying green technologies. 

Talking with Zarubezhneft engineers and workers, the PM said the long-standing and close friendship between Việt Nam and Russia, and the PetroVietnam - Zarubezhneft co-operation, will progress further in the foreseeable future. 

Warm relationship stressed

During his meeting with the President of the Russian Communist Party (RCP) G. Zyuganov earlier on Monday, PM Phúc emphasised the warm and trustworthy relationship between Việt Nam, the former Soviet Union and the current Russia. 

At the meeting, the PM said the Government and people of Việt Nam always remember the sentiments and valuable support of Russian communists and people - during  Việt Nam’s past struggle for national liberation and during current national defense and construction. Việt Nam has always wished to enhance the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, he said. 
 

Zyuganov congratulated the Communist Party of Việt Nam on the success of the 12th Party Congress, where major development orientations were set forth for the country in the future. He suggested the two Parties share information and experience in Party work. 

PM Phúc also met with representatives of the Russia-Việt Nam Friendship Association and the Association of Russian Former Military Experts. He reminisced with them about the sacrifice of many Russian experts, scientists, and citizens for Việt Nam’s independence.

PM Phúc briefed Russian war veterans and experts on achievements Việt Nam has attained after 30 years of reform, as well as on the country’s foreign policy. He said Việt Nam attached importance to developing relations with traditional friends, including Russia. 

The heads of the two associations promised to make more contributions to the long-lasting relationship and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. — VNS