Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân meets Chairman of the State Council of Tatarstan Farid Khayrullovich Mukhametshin in Kazan city on Sunday (local time). — VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đức

KAZAN — Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân met with Chairman of the State Council of Tatarstan, Farid Khayrullovich Mukhametshin in Kazan city on Sunday (local time) as part of her official visit to Russia.

At the meeting, Ngân said Việt Nam always attaches importance to its comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, considering it one of the top priorities in its foreign policy.
She highlighted the fruitful political and diplomatic ties between Việt Nam and Russia, with regular exchanges of delegations at all levels.
Bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation have developed remarkably, especially since the free trade agreement between Việt Nam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) came into force in October 2016, she said.
The two leaders shared the view that Việt Nam and Russia should step up economic collaboration to match their strong political ties and the aspirations of both nations. 
Ngân pledged that Việt Nam will create a favourable investment and business environment for Russian firms, including those from Tatarstan and Kazan, to operate effectively in the country.
Tatarstan is the leading centre of the manufacturing, chemical, light and food industries in the Volga economic region, and Việt Nam is seeking partnerships in these areas, she said, adding that Việt Nam also wants to learn from Tatarstan’s experience in building IT parks.
Praising twinning relations between Vietnamese and Russian localities like Hà Nội-Moscow, HCM City-Staint Petersburg, Khánh Hòa-Saint Petersburg and Nghệ An-Ulyanov, Ngân expressed her hope for similar links between Kazan and Vietnamese cities, as well as the Republic of Tatarstan and Vietnamese localities.
Besides, Russia has become the biggest source of tourists to Việt Nam, with more than 600,000 Russians flocking to the Southeast Asian nation last year. Russia is also attracting more Vietnamese holiday-makers.
Ngân suggested strengthening tourism links between Việt Nam and Russia and Tatarstan in particular.
The leader used the occasion to call on leaders of Tatarstan to further facilitate the settlement of Vietnamese in the locality.
Regarding parliamentary cooperation, which, Ngân said, plays an important role in their bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, she also informed her host about the establishment of an inter-parliamentary committee between the Vietnamese NA and Russia’s State Duma.
This is Việt Nam’s highest parliamentary collaboration mechanism, she said, adding that the first meeting of the committee is set to be held during her visit.
Ngân appealed to the State Council of Tatarstan, the State Duma and the Federal Council (upper house) of Russia to work closely with the Vietnamese NA in order to push ahead with the signing of cooperation agreements between the two countries, enhance delegation exchanges, support each other on issues of shared concern, and expand relations between localities as well as people-to-people exchanges.
Mukhametshin noted his hopes that Ngân’s visit will contribute to reinforcing relations between Việt Nam and Russia, and Tatarstan as well.
He briefed the Vietnamese leader on Tatarstan’s engagement in Russia’s projects and hosting sports and students’ events, along with its strengths in various areas.

NA Chairwoman Ngân met with the Vietnamese community in Kazan at the House of Peoples’ Friendship the same day.

The event was also attended by Chairman Mukhametshin, who told his guest that the House of Peoples’ Friendship is used by all communities in Tatarstan to exchange and strengthen friendship, while maintaining their cultural identities. Each community has their own space at the house, he said.
There are about 1,000 Vietnamese people living in Kazan, along with 96 students. The Vietnamese Association in Kazan, which was established in 2002, has held various activities to foster solidarity among the community and promote Vietnamese culture, including sporting events and regular Vietnamese language courses for children. — VNS