Co-operation between Vietnamese and Russian localities plays an important role in the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. — VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đức

HÀ NỘI — Co-operation between Vietnamese and Russian localities plays an important role in the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, agreed National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân and Chairwoman of Russia’s Federal Council Valentina Ivanovna Matvienko. 

Addressing a seminar on strengthening partnerships among localities of both countries in Hà Nội yesterday, the two top legislators noted that localities of both sides have high potential for co-operation in investment, trade, tourism, and culture. 

They called for NA deputies to exert more efforts to deal with obstacles and barriers hindering collaboration along localities, adding that participants should discuss the current situation and ideas to boost partnerships. 

The Vietnamese NA leader affirmed that the outcomes of the seminar will be sent to relevant agencies of each country, helping them make local co-operation more fruitful. 

She pledged that Việt Nam would do its utmost to create optimal legal conditions for ministries, sectors, localities, organisations and businesses to forge stronger ties. 

For her part, Matvienko stated that Việt Nam is among the Asia-Pacific countries with high GDP growth, which helps Việt Nam and Russia to continue expanding bilateral co-operation. 

The two sides are working to hit US$10 billion in two-way trade by 2020 by exploiting untapped potential, she said. 

The Russian legislator noted that in 2016, after receiving the ratification from the respective parliaments, the Eurasian Economic Union-Việt Nam free trade agreement became effective, opening new opportunities for Việt Nam and Russia to beef up trade co-operation. 

At the seminar, the two sides agreed that Việt Nam-Russia ties have been growing fruitfully, with eventful cooperation at local level as shown in relations between Hà Nội and Moscow, HCM City and Saint Petersburg and Moscow, Đà Nẵng and Yaroslavl, Khánh Hòa and Khabarovsk, Nghệ An and Ulianop, and Bà Rịa Vũng Tàu and Nenetski. 

The localities’ partnerships, rooted from the solidarity of both peoples and demand for mutual growth, have contributed to the development of Việt Nam-Russia ties, they added. 

Participants at the event, including representatives of seven Russian localities, Russian diplomatic agencies and the Russian Business Association in Việt Nam as well as 12 Vietnamese localities, also said that amidst the effectiveness of the Eurasian Economic Union-Việt Nam free trade agreement, the two sides should focus more on economic, trade and investment co-operation. 

Last year, two-way trade reached $2.7 billion, with total Russian foreign direct investment in Việt Nam hitting about $1.1 billion across 118 projects, ranking 23rd among 116 countries and territories investing in Việt Nam. 

The two countries should create more favourable conditions for investors on both sides, especially in areas of common strength and high demand. 

The Russian side invited Vietnamese localities to join the Orient Economic Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok this September. 

The two sides also decided to form a local working group with the participation of localities of both sides, with meetings held in turn in Việt Nam and Russia, aiming to make co-operation among localities more effective. — VNS