Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (L) meets Russian Prime Minister Dmitry A. Medvedev in Moscow on Wednesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

MOSCOW — Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and his Russian counterpart Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev discussed measures to enhance co-operation during talks held in Moscow on Wednesday.

PM Phúc said Việt Nam always attaches great importance to developing its traditional friendship with Russia.

Russian PM Medvedev said his country wants to enhance its comprehensive strategic partnership with Việt Nam.

The two leaders expressed delight at the strong development of trade, commerce and investment co-operation between the two countries in recent years, with two-way trade turnover hitting US$4.57 billion in 2018, up 28.6 per cent compared with the previous year.

Việt Nam and Russia would continue creating favourable conditions for businesses and products of the two countries to enter each other’s market, they said.

They stressed that energy was a key pillar in co-operation between the two countries and agreed to help oil and gas businesses explore and exploit the natural resources in Việt Nam and Russia.

The two PMs also agreed to implement a project to build a nuclear technology and scientific research centre in Việt Nam.

They spoke highly of defence and security co-operation and agreed to expand relations in potential areas such as science and technology, education and training, sports and tourism.

They stressed the importance of holding the Việt Nam Year in Russia and the Russia Year in Việt Nam in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

The two leaders said political co-operation continued to be strengthened with the exchanges of delegations.

At the talks, the PMs also exchanged views on international and regional issues, including the maintenance of peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in Asia-Pacific, including the East Sea.
PM Phúc invited his counterpart to visit Việt Nam in the near future, which PM Medvedev accepted.
Following the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of deals in nuclear energy, oil and gas, construction, tourism, justice and locality-to-locality ties.

Business forum

Việt Nam always welcomes and is willing to create favourable conditions for Russian enterprises to do business in the country, PM Phúc said when addressing the Russia-Việt Nam Business Forum in Moscow the same day.
Việt Nam is the 23rd biggest trade partner of Russia and runs 20 projects worth $3 billion in the country, while Russia has 123 projects (excluding those related to oil and gas) worth $1 billion in Việt Nam.

He expressed his hope that two-way trade can reach $10 billion by 2020 after non-tariff barriers on major commodities are removed and a bilateral payment channel using local currencies is launched.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Maxim Akimov noted Việt Nam has affirmed itself as a key partner of Russia in Southeast Asia as it accounts for one-third of Russia’s imports from the regional countries.
He suggested both sides intensify collaboration in high technology, affirming Russia is willing to support Việt Nam in the fields of digital government and smart city building, as well as cybersecurity. — VNS