National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân (right) talks with Galina Nikolaevna Karelova, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council (upper house) during January 17 reception for the Russian delegations attending the 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26) held In Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đức

HÀ NỘI — National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân reaffirmed Việt Nam’s consistent policies in prioritising comprehensive relations with the Russian Federation.

She made the remark yesterday during a reception for representatives from the Russia Federation’s parliament (Federal Assembly), Galina Nikolaevna Karelova, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council (upper house), Epifanova Olga Nikolaevna, deputy of the State Duma (lower house), who are attending the APPF-26.

NA Chairwoman Ngân expressed her appreciation at the increasingly close ties between the two countries, manifested through frequent high-level official dialogues and exchanges. NA Chairwoman Ngân also highly regarded the mutual support the two countries offer each other in multilateral forums, especially at the United Nations.

The head of Việt Nam’s legislative branch asked the Russian parliament to provide the necessary legal support for the signing of the agreement on food safety control, making it easier for Vietnamese businesses to export agricultural and seafood products to Russia.

Highlighting the effective cooperation between Việt Nam and Russia in the fields of energy, oil and gas last time, NA Chairwoman Ngân proposed the two sides continue to create favourable conditions for joint-venture oil and gas projects of the two countries. On the other hand, Việt Nam fully supports Russia’s participation in subway projects in Hà Nội and HCM City, as well as the establishment of a joint-venture automobile factory based in Việt Nam in the future.

Galina Nikolaevna Karelova, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council, expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome and said Việt Nam’s hosting of the APPF-26 affirmed the country’s reputation in holding international multilateral meetings.

She also reiterated Russia’s wish to boost trade and investment, tourism, and cultural exchanges with Việt Nam.

Galina Nikolaevna Karelova also took this occasion to invite NA Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân to join the Eurasian Women’s Forum which will be held in Russia later this year.

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân (right) welcomes Jiko Fatafehi Luveni, Speaker of the Parliament of Fiji, to Hà Nội as part of the 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26). — VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đức

Committed to supporting Fiji

Yesterday, NA Chairwoman Ngân also received Jiko Fatafehi Luveni, Speaker of the Parliament of Fiji, who is leading the Pacific island country’s delegates participating in the APPF-26.

During their talks, NA Chairwoman Ngân said Việt Nam is willing to cooperate, share best practices and provide technical support for Fiji in areas Việt Nam has experience in, including ensuring food security, developing agriculture and aquaculture, developing infrastructure and health sector under bilateral or multilateral mechanisms, as Việt Nam has been doing in a number of African countries.

Fiji parliament’s speaker said she wished the two countries and the two legislative bodies would tighten their relationship and give support to each other in multilateral forums.

Being a new member of the Asia-Pacific parliament forum, Speaker Jiko Luveni said the forum’s agenda fits Fiji’s own development priorities and hopes the country would bring active contributions to the success of the event. — VNS