MOSCOW — Việt Nam always views the Russian Federation as a top priority partner in its foreign policy, and wishes to further enhance and deepen the bilateral relations of cooperation in all fields on the basis of mutual trust and for the benefit of the two peoples.

So said General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee Nguyễn Phú Trọng while receiving leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation Gennady Zyuganov in Moscow on September 8.

Party leader Trọng said he is happy to meet Zyuganov again and stressed that for the Vietnamese people, the people of the former Soviet Union and of the current Russia are always friends and brothers, and this sentiment will never change.

The Vietnamese people will never forget the valuable support and assistance, both spiritual and material, given by the people of the former Soviet Union and of the current Russia to Việt Nam during its national defence in the past and its current national construction and development, Party leader Trọng reiterated.

He took the occasion to thank the Russian party for its active support of President Vladimir Putin’s policy of developing the friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Việt Nam, and expressed his belief that the Russian party will further consolidate its firm position in social and political life in Russia, thus making important contributions to prosperity in Russia as well as to the international communist and worker’s movement.

Party leader Trọng spoke highly of the Russian party’s successful organisation of various events relating to the international communist movement, and stressed that the Communist Party of Việt Nam always treasures the fine, traditional friendship with the Communist Party of the Russian Federation. He also took the occasion to ask the Russian party to continue supporting Việt Nam in its national construction and defence.

In the future, the two sides should intensify the exchange of delegations at various levels, actively support the cooperative relations between their mass organisations, and pay attention to the consolidation of the organisation and operation of the friendship associations, the Party leader said. He also expressed his hope that the Russian party, with its prestige and influence, will do its utmost to develop up the comprehensive and strategic partnership between the two countries.

For his part, Zyuganov recalled his profound memories of Việt Nam and said he is happy to see that Việt Nam still continues the friendship and co-operation with Russia.

The Russian party leader expressed his joy and pride at Việt Nam’s achievements in its renewal and national development as well as at the fine development of Russia – Việt Nam relations, and said he hopes the cooperative relations between localities in the two countries will be increased.

The Communist Party of the Russian Federation always supports cooperation programmes with Việt Nam, Zyuganov stressed, adding that the party will closely join hands with the Vietnamese side in organising various practical and significant activities on the occasion of the Year of Russia in Việt Nam and the Year of Việt Nam in Russia. He also spoke highly of the close collaboration and active contributions from the Vietnamese Party to the organsation and successes of the events held by the Russian party.

Also within the framework of the official visit to Russia by Party leader Trọng, Politburo member and Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee Nguyễn Văn Bình, who is also head of its economic commission, received Chairman of the International Investment Bank Nikolay Kosov and Chairman of the International Bank for Economic Co-operation Denis Ivanov.

The two sides exchanged views on issues related to the development of relations and cooperation in the banking field. The leaders of the banks expressed their wish to continue receiving support from Việt Nam and affirmed that they will further develop the cooperation with Vietnamese partners.

For his part, Bình spoke highly of the achievements recorded by the two banks, affirmed support for their action plans, and welcomed their cooperation and investment projects in Việt Nam. — VNS