Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev held talks on Tuesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev pledged to further deepen bilateral ties as they held a telephone call late Tuesday.

The two countries’ Government leaders, in an open and trusting spirit, have reviewed bilateral cooperation and noted with appreciation the practical results and the progress of the implementation of agreements made during the official visit to Russia Federation by PM Phúc in May this year.

The two leaders also agreed to promote the effective cooperation between Việt Nam and Russia on several fronts.

The Vietnamese and Russian prime ministers expressed satisfaction over the dynamic developments witnessed in the two countries’ ties in recent times, with many high-level visits and meaningful activities in the Việt Nam Year in Russia and Russia Year in Việt Nam 2019-2020.

The two prime ministers have also highly valued the efforts put into resolving barriers that hamper the two countries’ bilateral trade – particularly with regards to agricultural products, aquatic and marine fisheries products, in order to take full advantage of the Việt Nam-Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU - including Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan) free trade agreement – especially when the global economy is suffering uncertainties.

Regarding oil cooperation, PM Phúc stressed that Việt Nam always pays a high degree of attention to creating favourable conditions for the two countries’ oil and gas enterprises to deepen cooperation from traditional fields of exploration to exploitation, to newer activities such as thermoelectricity, liquefied gas supply, and engine fuel.

PM Medvedev also reaffirmed the country’s consistent support for its oil enterprises in investing and participating in oil and gas projects in Việt Nam’s seas.

During their talks, PM Phúc and his Russian counterpart also conversed at length about the measures needed to promote the implementation of several key cooperation projects, including the Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology, where a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Russian State-owned nuclear group Rosatom and Việt Nam’s Ministry of Science and Technology.

The two leaders have talked about the activities to be held in the Việt Nam Year in Russia and Russia Year in Việt Nam 2019-2020, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations, 75th anniversary of liberation from Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, 45th anniversary of the Việt Nam’s Day of Southern Liberation for National Reunification (April 30) as well as when Việt Nam is set to hold the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2020.

The Vietnamese and Russian leaders have exchanged new year wishes to the two countries’ governments and people. — VNS