President Trần Đại Quang meets with members of the Russia-Việt Nam Friendship Association and the Russia Union of Veterans who formerly worked in Việt Nam in Moscow late on Wednesday.

MOSCOW — President Trần Đại Quang met with members of the Russia-Việt Nam Friendship Association and the Russia Union of Veterans who formerly worked in Việt Nam in Moscow late on Wednesday.
Speaking at the Hà Nội-Moscow multifunctional complex, Quang said he was happy to meet Russian war veterans who devoted their youth to the protection of their nation and Việt Nam’s struggle for the independence and freedom.
The Vietnamese people remember the enormous support that Russia has given to their national liberation and development, he noted.
Despite difficulties over nearly seven decades, the friendship between the two countries’ people remains warm and is a firm foundation for fostering the Việt Nam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership, he said, adding that bilateral relations have bright prospects.
The visiting leader affirmed that the country prioritises developing its comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, which has been and always will be a trustworthy friend of Việt Nam.
He also expressed delight at the growth of bilateral ties, noting regular high-ranking delegation exchanges and increasing economic-trade links. The signing of a free trade agreement between Việt Nam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will create momentum for Việt Nam’s trade with EAEU members, especially Russia, to grow.
The President valued the outcomes of people-to-people diplomacy through activities of the Russia-Việt Nam Friendship Association such as exchanges and meetings between friends, former comrades and between Russian teachers and Vietnamese alumni.
He voiced his hope that the Russia-Việt Nam Friendship Association and the Russian Union of Veterans who used to work in Việt Nam, together with the friendship association and the Association of Vietnamese War Veterans, will work harder to link the two countries’ people and help younger generations better understand each other.
He also asked the association to continue assisting the Vietnamese community in the country.
At the meeting, Russian participants expressed their interest in the country and people of Việt Nam. They also said they want to reinforce the two countries’ amity.
Also on late Wednesday, President Quang had a meeting in Moscow with representatives of Vietnamese people, students and businesses in Russia.

Education co-operation

Việt Nam and Russia should diversify education co-operation programmes for better results in the field, said Minister of Education and Training Phùng Xuân Nhạ during a working session with Russian Minister of Education and Science Olga Yurevna Vasylieva on Wednesday in Moscow.
The meeting was made during President Quang’s official visit to Russia from June 28 to July 1.
Lauding the traditional friendship between the two nations and their education ministries, Minister Nhạ thanked the Russian Ministry of Education and Science for granting nearly 1,000 scholarships to Vietnamese graduates and post-graduates each year.
Those who graduated in Russia will become the core workforce in Việt Nam, he said.
He also asked the Russian side to create more favourable conditions for Vietnamese students in the host country.
For her part, Olga Yurevna Vasylieva asserted that her ministry will promote co-ordination with Việt Nam to enhance training quality.
Russia will increase scholarships for Vietnamese students to 953 in 2018, 93 more than the number granted in 2017, she added.

Also on Wednesday, a Russian scholar said the two countries should enhance economic ties to match their potential.

Professor Vladimir Kolotov, head of the Far East History Department - St. Petersburg State University, made the suggestion in an interview with Vietnam News Agency reporters on the occasion of President Quang’s visit to Russia.
He said Việt Nam and Russia are partners and more importantly boast a long-standing friendship, with sound political relations and similar viewpoints on international affairs.
However, bilateral economic ties have yet to live up to expectations, said Kolotov, who is also Director of the Hồ Chí Minh Institute.
The two sides need to exert more efforts to disseminate accurate information on the development situation in their respective countries and around the world, he said. — VNS