Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình meets his Russian counterpart Maxim Akimov in Hà Nội on Tuesday. VNA/VNS Photo Văn Điệp

HÀ NỘI – Việt Nam treasured its comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia and supported the country's efforts to enhance its role and position in Asia-Pacific, Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình said yesterday.

Bình made the comments while receiving his Russian counterpart Maxim Akimov in Hà Nội, adding that Việt Nam wished to deepen bilateral co-operation in a pragmatic manner.

Bình said the outcomes of the freshly-concluded 22nd session of the Việt Nam-Russia Inter-Governmental Committee for Economic-Commercial and Scientific-Technological Co-operation reflected joint efforts to remove obstacles for bilateral collaboration and seek measures to step up their partnership.

Regarding Việt Nam-Russia Year 2019, the official urged organisers from both sides to co-ordinate and use the agreed logos to increase the efficiency of communications.

In the sphere of commerce, he pointed out signs of a decline in bilateral trade, with revenue in the first nine months of this year standing at only US$3.4 billion, down 1.4 per cent year-on-year.

Given this, Bình suggested the two sides continued to work together to remove non-tariff barriers in a bid to optimise the free trade agreement between Việt Nam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

Bình stated that oil and gas was a strategic co-operative sector in their bilateral relationship, noting that Việt Nam was willing to create favourable conditions for Russian enterprises to expand oil and gas exploration and exploitation in Việt Nam’s continental shelf in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

He also called on the Russian Government to support and encourage oil and gas firms to expand their activities in Việt Nam’s continental shelf.

Akimov, for his part, said Việt Nam was not only an important diplomatic and trade partner, but also a traditional friend of Russia.

High-level political dialogue between the two countries had created a good foundation for them to advance their trade ties, he said, highlighting common perceptions on international issues and mutual support in the global arena.

The guest said Việt Nam’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020 would help strengthen their partnerships across all spheres.

He used the occasion to congratulate Việt Nam on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure, stressing the event as significant to not only Việt Nam but also the world in maintaining regional and global peace and stability. — VNS