Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has phone talks with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin on Tuesday. — VNA.VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin looked into the two countries’ co-operation amid the COVID-19 pandemic during their phone talks on Tuesday.

PM Phúc said Việt Nam would always support Russia in the battle against COVID-19.

In response, the Russian PM said he highly valued what the Southeast Asian nation had achieved in controlling the disease and thanked the Vietnamese Government and people for assisting his country with 150,000 antibacterial cloth masks.

The two leaders agreed to strengthen their countries’ co-operation within the framework of the comprehensive strategic partnership, as well as in COVID-19 prevention and control by exchanging biomedical experts and working together in the provision of medical supplies.

They also agreed to continue supporting Vietnamese and Russian citizens in each other’s territories, promptly co-ordinating to deal with any problems and creating favourable conditions for citizens who want to return to their home countries.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has hurt the world’s economy, the PMs agreed they should provide more optimal conditions for bilateral trade to fully capitalise on the free trade agreement between Việt Nam and the Eurasian Economic Union, of which Russia is a member.

During the talks, they also discussed measures for speeding up important energy co-operation projects, stressing the need to facilitate Vietnamese and Russian businesses’ connections in the energy and auto assembly industries.

The two sides also agreed to maintain frequent exchanges and contact and push ahead with activities of the Vietnam Year in Russia and the Russia Year in Việt Nam 2019–20 when the pandemic ends.

PM Phúc also offered congratulations to the Russian leaders and people on the 75th anniversary of the Victory Day (May 9). He also invited Mishustin to pay an official visit to Việt Nam soon, and the Russian PM accepted with pleasure. — VNS