Countries in the Asia-Pacific region should increase co-operation to ensure security and maintain peace, stability and prosperity, President Trần Đại Quang said during a recent interview with Russian news agency TASS.— VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Countries in the Asia-Pacific region should increase co-operation to ensure security and maintain peace, stability and prosperity, President Trần Đại Quang said during a recent interview with Russian news agency TASS.
Việt Nam values Russia’s increasing role in Asia-Pacific, which is showing signs of strong development, he said in his first interview with a foreign media outlet since his appointment as President of Việt Nam in early April.
According to the President, dozens of new-generation free trade agreements in the region are improving regional economic development and creating opportunities for strong growth in the region and globally.
The leader said he has confidence in a bright future for Asia-Pacific and the region’s increasing role in economic and political issues and in solving global challenges.
President Quang highlighted the outcomes of 20 years of the ASEAN-Russia dialogue partnership, saying Việt Nam highly values Russia’s role in building a sustainable regional structure.
He hopes that Russia will continue to be a responsible world power through ASEAN-Russia co-operation mechanisms. The nation should continue supporting ASEAN to increase its role in regional issues, improve the effectiveness of dialogue mechanisms and help resolve security challenges in the region.
He told TASS that as an ASEAN member and a comprehensive strategic partner of Russia, Việt Nam remains a crucial bridge between ASEAN and Russia. The growth of the ASEAN-Russia partnership will raise the role of Việt Nam and Russia in the Southeast Asia as well as the Asia-Pacific, contributing to peace, stability and development around the globe.
With regard to Vietnamese-Russian relations, President Quang recognised the intensification of co-operation in all areas. The countries’ political relationship is being reinforced, as are collaborations in economics, security, defence, education, technology and culture.
He admitted economic and trade co-operation has yet to live up to expectations, adding that both sides should devise measures to foster partnerships across the board.
Việt Nam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) signed a bilateral free trade agreement one year ago, and the deal has been ratified by Việt Nam, Russia and Kazakhstan. Once fully implemented, the pact will become a driving force for economic and trade connections between Việt Nam and Russia, and the EAEU (which also includes Armenia, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan) as a whole.
Energy and defence remain important co-operation areas, the Vietnamese leader said, noting that they should work together in petrochemistry and building gas pipelines. The two countries should also enhance military co-operation. -- VNS